Bologna: what to see in 1 day

Bologna is recognized by its arcades, more than forty kilometers running through the historic center that make it a UNESCO World Heritage site, and by its medieval towers, once over a hundred.

A university city for nearly a thousand years, it unites a compact historic center with a gastronomic tradition among Italy's most renowned, all to be discovered on foot in a single day.

Piazza Maggiore works well as a first stop: the city's heart is dominated by the Basilica of San Petronio, whose unfinished brick façade sits with an interior among Europe's largest for a non-cathedral church.

Beside it stands Neptune, the 16th-century fountain now one of the city's symbols, and the Palazzo d'Accursio, the historic seat of municipal power.

From here, walking along via Rizzoli beneath the arcades, you reach the Two Towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, the most famous survivors of the dozens of medieval towers that once dotted the city: the Asinelli Tower, climbable with nearly five hundred steps, offers a view over the entire historic centre.

For lunch, the Quadrilatero, the ancient food market behind Piazza Maggiore, offers osterias and shops where you can taste tortellini, mortadella and other Bolognese specialities.

The Archiginnasio is the historic seat of the University of Bologna, the oldest in the Western world, with its celebrated cedarwood Anatomical Theatre.

Those preferring to walk can instead climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca through the world's longest arcade, nearly four kilometres of covered walkway climbing the hill with views progressively opening over the city.

The university zone around via Zamboni, lively with students and venues, is the most practical for informal dinner.

Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers, and the Quadrangle manage to convey Bologna's medieval and gastronomic soul, while the afternoon choice between the Archiginnasio and San Luca adds its academic or devotional side.

The MAMbo, the city's modern art museum, and a trip to the Bolognese hills remain chapters for a second visit. Seeing the porticoes stretch to the horizon along the streets of the center sums up Bologna in a single view.