Tour Description

Explore the Best of Bologna in 3 hours with our fun walking tour!

A local and top rated guide will meet you and take you to explore this beautiful city. There is no need to worry about the weather: there are nearly 40 kilometers of porticos to keep you dry or shaded, and nearly every significant attraction in the city is just a few minutes walk.

The ancient city of Bologna has three nicknames: la Dotta (the Learned), la Grassa (the fat), la Rossa (the red). The “learned” is a reference to the city’s university, the oldest in the Western world. Its Latin title, Alma Mater Studiorum, means “nourishing mother of studies". The “fat” refers to its culinary significance - there is such a multitude of regional specialties that the city has become known as the “foodie” capital of Italy. The “red” invokes the terracotta color of the buildings, and is also indicative of its anti-fascist stance during the Second World War.

If you are fascinated by art and history you will relish the chance to visit Piazza Maggiore, which includes the palaces constructed for public administration (Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo di Re Enzo and Palazzo del Capitano del popolo), as well as Piazza del Nettuno, the Santo Stefano complex, San Petronio, Asinelli and Galisenda towers and much more.

Your expert guide will share interesting anecdotes and urban legends as you wander by some of the city’s best known monuments, as well as explore hidden canals and porticos. Bologna is a truly magical place and this tour is sure to be an unforgettable experience!

Start the tour and see the graceful Neptune fountain, before taking in the arcaded via dell'Archiginnasio alongside the imposing Basilica of San Petronius. The unfinished façade of the Basilica dominates one side of the Piazza Maggiore, where you will admire the elegant town hall and the Governor’s Palace. The acoustics of the Palace’s vaulted dome are such that a whisper can be heard by those on the opposite side. Not far from the Palace are the famous towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, which were referenced by Dante in his ‘Divine Comedy’. These towers appear to lean even more dramatically than the famous leaning tower of Pisa, due to their narrow shape.

You will also have chance to see one of the ‘lost’ canals of Bologna. A small window on via Piella provides a rare glimpse of a canal dating back to the Middle Age, dug to bring the waters of the two rivers into the city centre.

Join our tour and explore Bologna and its landmarks with us!

To book this unique and original Bologna Highlights Tour, please contact us for information and reservations at info@orangeumbrellatours.com. You must accompany your children at all times.

What's included

All the most interesting sites of Bologna on one tour led by a top-rated local guide.

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