Bologna

Arcaded streets and legendary eats

Bologna This is a city of many names. Three of its best-known (besides Bologna) are the Fat, the Red, and the Learned. These affectionate monikers emerged in local dialect over centuries and still apply today.

It’s Italy’s culinary capital, so come prepared to dig in. Tagliatelle al ragù was born here. Fresh pasta, slow-simmered sauces, and mortadella sliced thick. The wealth of old Bologna meant innovation in cuisine, and this tradition has never left the city.

Between your meals, amble the streets and notice rust-red terracotta rooftops leaning into narrow porticos. There are over 40 kilometres (25 miles) of them, the longest in the world. This is where Bologna’s second name comes from.

The university halls here have echoed with the sounds of students and teachers since 1088. That makes Bologna home to one of the oldest higher education institutions in the world. Sophistication hangs in the air.

Start at Piazza Maggiore, then wander. Climb the Asinelli Tower, if your legs are up for it. The Basilica di San Petronio looms large and unfinished, its façade half-marble, half-brick. Inside, the world's longest sundial runs across the floor.