One day in Bologna

Day by day

1. Day 1: Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain and Basilica of San Petronio

   Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain, Basilica of San Petronio, Quadrilatero market streets and Santa Maria della Vita, then Piazza Verdi and Via Zamboni in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain

      Try the 'whispering gallery' under the Palazzo del Podestà with a friend: stand in opposite corners facing the wall and speak quietly. Allow 1 hour.

   2. Late morning

      Basilica of San Petronio

      Look for the small hole high in the vault that projects a disc of sunlight onto Cassini's meridian around midday, and cover shoulders and knees. Allow 45 minutes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tagliatelle al ragù

      Traditional trattorie and osterie across the centre; Sunday lunch is when locals eat it most.

   4. Afternoon

      Quadrilatero market streets

      Come mid-morning to watch the shops at work, and return in the early evening for a glass of Pignoletto and a board of cured meats. Allow 1–2 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Santa Maria della Vita

      It is a short detour from the market lanes; allow a quiet 20 minutes in front of the terracotta mourners. Allow 30 minutes.

   6. Evening

      Piazza Verdi and Via Zamboni

      The student heart of the city, with low-cost bars, crowds spilling into the square and late nights on weekdays as well as weekends.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Santo Stefano (Seven Churches) (Santo Stefano and Strada Maggiore): Visit early in the morning when it is at its quietest, then have coffee under the porticoes of the piazza.
• Swap in Archiginnasio and Anatomical Theatre (Piazza Galvani): Look into the Stabat Mater hall, the old law school's lecture room, on your way to the anatomy theatre.
• Swap in Pinacoteca Nazionale (University Quarter (Via Zamboni)): Combine it with Palazzo Poggi further along Via Zamboni for a half-day in the university quarter.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 3–4 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.8 hours in December to 15.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Porticoes line most streets, so walking is pleasant in rain or sun; few central sights are more than 15 minutes apart.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Bologna
• 3 days in Bologna

Questions travellers ask