Lay of the Land

Tourist information about Bologna, Italy

Bologna is 105km (65 miles) north of Florence and 210km (130 miles) both south of Venice and southeast of Milan. The center of Bologna is Piazza Maggiore, about a 15-minute walk down Via dell'Indipendenza from the train station (or take bus no. 25 or 30). Since old Bologna is densely concentrated within the ring roads that follow the lines of its old walls, most everything of interest lies within a 10- to 15-minute walk from this central square. Following Via Rizzoli, which skirts the north end of the piazza, you come to Bologna's famous leaning towers, and from there Via Zamboni leads northeast toward the university and the Pinacoteca Nazionale; Via Ugo Bassi runs west from the piazza to Via del Pratello and its antiques shops and osterie; and Via degli Orefici takes you southeast into the midst of Bologna's colorful food markets and toward the San Stefano church complex. The main tourist office (Piazza Maggiore, 1, in the Palazzo Comunale; tel. 051-239660 or 051-251947; www.bolognawelcome.com; Monday through Saturday 9am–7pm and Sunday 10am–5pm ) has a hotel-booking service in addition to the typical information. The branch office in the train station is open Monday through Saturday 9am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to pm, the airport office Monday through Saturday 9am to 7:30pm , Sunday 9am–5pm. For tourism information on the region, visit www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it and www.provincia.bologna.it/cultura.

Tips & links

Share this page

Search ReidsItaly.com