Bologna

Brief information

In Bologna, the medieval city has not disappeared behind modern streets: towers, porticoes, arcades, and the tight old street plan still help you read it. In the 12th and 13th centuries, between 80 and 100 towers were built here, and about two dozen have survived. So the city’s verticals are not accidental decoration, but a trace of an earlier way of displaying power and status.

Another key to Bologna is the university. It was founded in 1088 and made the city one of Europe’s main intellectual centers. This fact matters not as a date in itself: it explains why Bologna is perceived not only through palaces and squares, but also through a dense urban fabric where academic buildings, churches, palazzi, towers, and long covered walkways exist side by side.

What to notice right away

It makes sense to compare three types of urban form. The porticoes and arcades along the streets show Bologna as a city where movement was built directly into the facades; these covered walkways are the ones included on the UNESCO list. In the central squares, another principle is visible: Piazza Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore adjoin each other at an angle, and around them stand buildings with different functions: the Palazzo del Podestà, the palace of the notaries, a banking palazzo, and the town hall.

It is also worth noting the unfinished facade of the Basilica of San Petronio: construction began as a project for one of the largest churches, but it was halted, leaving a visible trace of an interrupted design on the square. The two brick “leaning” towers act as a quick test of scale: Asinelli is taller and still leans, while Garisenda is lower but leans more sharply.