The Asinelli Tower and other symbols of Bologna
It is the Asinelli Tower, 98 meters high, and the Garisenda Tower, 48 meters high, that play the role of symbols of the city. The theaters of Bologna are also very popular, starting with the “Teatro delle Celebrazioni”, the “Teatro Comunale” and the equally splendid “Arena del Sole”. The Emilian city offers a lot of greenery; This is guaranteed above all by the hills to the south of the town, a few minutes away from the historic centre. To reach them comfortably, simply rely on a car rental service in Bologna.
The Archiginnasio and the canals of Bologna
Bologna is characterized by its historic, medieval centre, the second largest in the Old Continent after that of Venice. Among the buildings to note in your travel notebook, the Archiginnasio deserves to be included, i.e. a portico now home to the library (in past times the university was housed inside), characterized by delightful arches decorated with coats of arms. Worthy of attention are the canals of Bologna; to get a taste of it, all you need to do is look from the small (but famous) window on Via Piella. This is not the only window in the city, as there are others in Via Malcontenti and Via Oberdan. Finally, the porticoes of San Luca are of note, which cross Bologna for about forty km, proving very useful on rainy days.
The surroundings of Bologna between villages and nature
It would be a shame, with a rental car available, to give up visiting the surroundings of Bologna. The first stop could be the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, which has watched over the city for centuries. Perched on Colle della Guardia, it is rightly considered one of the spiritual symbols of Bologna. Choosing to reach it means walking along the longest continuous portico on the globe (4 km), made unique by its 666 arches. In the vicinity of Bologna it is impossible not to mention Dozza, dominated by the majestic Rocca Sforzesca, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. What differentiates him is his ability to make testimonies from the medieval era and expressions of contemporary art coexist. The facades of the houses, for example, feature murals signed by internationally renowned artists, who created these works during the “Painted Wall Biennial”.
Art lives again in Ferrara, Ravenna and Parma
Those who, when exploring Emilia Romagna, are looking for another city of art besides Bologna, have an excellent option in Ferrara. The heart of the town is the Estense Castle, dating back to the fourteenth century, in past times the home of the Estensi court. If time permits, why not reach Ravenna to experience its priceless historical and artistic heritage? Among the many attractions we remember the 8 early Christian and Byzantine monuments which have become part of the UNESCO World Heritage list thanks to their splendid mosaics. A holiday in Emilia could end by visiting Parma to admire the Duomo, Baptistery and Teatro Regio.
Bologna has the privilege of being in an optimal position to broaden its gaze towards the other cities of Emilia rich in artistic testimonies. A car rental is the perfect option for deepening your knowledge of the Region, also lending itself to short but evocative excursions out of town that include places such as Ferrara or Ravenna.
