Towers of the Asinelli and Garisenda (Torri degli Asinelli e Garisenda), Bologna

Advantages: A real Italian city, without many tourists
Disadvantages: Lots of students (but then that also adds to the charms of the city)

...level of a building out above the pathways, would provide for extra rooms. Famous sons of Bologna include Guglielmo Marconi - famous for the radio. Sadly Bologna also has seen some tragedy in its history. In the 1980s, right-wing terrorists planted a bomb in the waiting room at the railway station, killing 84 people. The huge jagged gash in the thick wall of the waiting room caused by the bomb has been left as a monument to this sad point of the city's history, next to a memorial plaque containing the names of those sadly killed. Tourist sites that you must see: Piazza Maggiore and fountain of Neptune; the 2 towers (try walking to the top of la Torre Asinelli for fantastic views over the red roofs of the city); the church at Santo Stefano; the Santuario di San Luca (on a hill overlooking the city) - with the 3.6km of covered arcaded... Read review

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Advantages: Local specialities
Disadvantages: Terribly stuffy in summer

...I have stopped quite often in the province around Bologna on may way to ro back from Florence. Bologna is deservedly well known for the good food, plus some monuments. My favourite restaurant ...is actually the house of a couple of friends of mine. Funnily enough, this is not the best palce to taste traditional Bolognese cuisine, since she is from Paraguay and cooks local dishes, while her husband is from Bologna and knows how to keep up with the tradition. They also used to have a very nice, old shop near the tower, selling all kind of aromatic herbs. If it is still there, ask for the torre and then when you are there I am sure everyone knows about this shop. Apart from the herbs you can find there, which are really worth the trip, the shop itself is worth a visit, since it has been left intact since the earky fifties.... Read review

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Advantages: antique buildings, simply RED!
Disadvantages: simply RED!

...You will fall in love with this city if your favourite colour is RED! I visit this city during the summer. As I was walking across the train station, both sides of the buildings are tall columns and antique style architecture. With mainly orange and red as the primary colors of the building decorative elements. Even the buses are red too! There are many leaning towers in Italy. You will also find the leaning twin towers here in Bologna too. There is a good place to have lunch. it is in the market district. the price is reasonable and visitors that do not speak Italian can order the dish just by pointing. I enjoy the Parma Ham with cheese and sweet melon, I am in paradise! bottle of wine in italy is cheaper than bottle water. so i end up drinking wine for every meal.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful