Bologna

Bologna

IT
Population386,663
Bologna ( bə-LOHN-yə, UK also bə-LON-yə, Italian: [boˈloɲɲa] ; Emilian: Bulåggna [buˈlʌɲɲɐ]; Latin: Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its metropolitan province is home to more than 1 million people. Bologna is most famous for being the home to the oldest university in continuous operation, the University of Bologna, established in AD 1088. The city has been an important urban center for centuries, first under the Etruscans (who called it Felsina), then under the Celts as Bona, later under the Romans (Bonōnia), then again in the Middle Ages, as a free municipality and later signoria, when it was among the largest European cities by population. Famous for its towers, churches and lengthy porticoes, Bologna has a well-preserved historical centre, thanks to a careful restoration and conservation policy which began at the end of the 1970s. In 2000, it was declared European capital of culture and in 2006, a UNESCO "City of Music" and became part of the Creative Cities Network. In 2021, UNESCO recognized the lengthy porticoes of the city as a World Heritage Site. Bologna is an important agricultural, industrial, financial and transport hub, where many large mechanical, electronic and food companies have their headquarters as well as one of the largest permanent trade fairs in Europe. According to recent data gathered by the European Regional Economic Growth Index (E-REGI) of 2009, Bologna is the first Italian city and the 47th European city in terms of its economic growth rate; in 2022, Il Sole 24 Ore named Bologna the best city in Italy for overall quality of life. Bologna intends to become carbon neutral by 2040 and raise female employment rates, focussing on sustainable and equitable urban development. The city is also increasing its investment in sustainability as part of a 2022–2024 program that integrates gender perspectives into urban planning, with an emphasis on sustainable mobility, public infrastructure, and green spaces.

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in Bologna

Biblioteca Salaborsa

Biblioteca Salaborsa

Salaborsa is the main public library in Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy. In 2001, the central offices of the public …

Loggia dei Mercanti

Loggia dei Mercanti

Museo Civico Archeologico

Museo Civico Archeologico

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna (Italian: Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna) is located in the fifteenth-century Palazzo Galvani building …

Cattedrale di San Pietro

Cattedrale di San Pietro

Bologna Cathedral, formally known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter (Italian: Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Pietro, also called Cattedrale …

Palazzo d'Accursio

Palazzo d'Accursio

Palazzo d'Accursio (or Palazzo Comunale) is a palace once formulated to house major administrative offices of the city of Bologna, …

Palazzo Re Enzo

Palazzo Re Enzo

Palazzo Re Enzo is a palace located on Piazza del Nettuno, 1 in the historic center of Bologna, northern Italy. …

Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica

Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica

The Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica (International Museum and Library of Music) is a music museum and music library …

Museo Automobili Lamborghini

Museo Automobili Lamborghini

The Museo Lamborghini (or Lamborghini Museum) is an automobile museum owned and operated by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. in Sant'Agata Bolognese, …

Ducati Museum

Ducati Museum

The Ducati Museum (Italian: Museo Ducati) is a transport museum in Bologna, Italy at the Ducati factory.

Basilica di Santo Stefano

Basilica di Santo Stefano

The Basilica of Santo Stefano (Italian: Basilica di Santo Stefano) encompasses a complex of religious edifices in the city of …

Museo della Storia di Bologna

Museo della Storia di Bologna

The Palazzo Pepoli Vecchio is a medieval palace located on Via Castiglione number 8, in central Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, …

Giardini dell'Orto Botanico

Giardini dell'Orto Botanico

The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Bologna, also known as the Orto Botanico di Bologna, is a botanical garden operated by …

Giardini Margherita

Giardini Margherita

The Giardini Margherita is a park in Bologna, Italy, located just south of the city centre.

Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna

Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna

The National Art Gallery of Bologna (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna) is a museum in Bologna, Italy. It is located in …

MAMbo

MAMbo

The Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna or MAMbo is a purpose-designed modern and experimental art museum in Bologna, Italy — …

Museo di Palazzo Poggi

Museo di Palazzo Poggi

Santuario della Madonna di San Luca

Santuario della Madonna di San Luca

The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a basilica church located in Bologna, northern Italy, situated atop the …

Biblioteca Comunale dell'Archiginnasio

Biblioteca Comunale dell'Archiginnasio

The Biblioteca comunale dell'Archiginnasio (Archiginnasio Municipal Library) is a public library in Bologna, Italy. It is located inside the Palace …

Garisenda

Garisenda

Asinelli

Asinelli

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