Bologna the medieval university

Bologna and its origins

Bologna is one of the cities of art in Italy where its medieval origins are best preserved. Bologna was a destination for romantic writers, but also known for its art and its culinary tradition. Today it is a famous university city. The first settlements probably date back to the Bronze Age. Around the 10th-9th century BC, in the Iron Age, the Villanovan civilization developed, which took its name from the findings of huts near Villanova di Castenaso, belonging to the latter. Later the Etruscans arrived, who strengthened trade with the Mediterranean area, especially with Greece. In the 4th century it was conquered by the Boi Gauls, in 189 BC, the city soon became a Roman colony, and took the name of Bononia (probably deriving from the Celtic bona meaning "building". Following the fall of the Roman Empire it was conquered in 727 by the Lombards led by Liutprand, and was then granted to the popes by the Franks. The rise of the city occurred with the foundation of the university, established in 1088, and the constitution of the Municipality. Bologna was also the first city to abolish it in 1256 serfdom and had an urban development equal to that of Paris, thanks above all to the development of the textile industry; it was precisely the findings of the "Bolognese" silk mills that demonstrated how advanced and innovative the industry was at that time Due to the fights between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, the city went through a period of crisis and gradually lost its autonomy. The various lordships that followed were increasingly subject to papal power. In 1350 Giovanni and Giacomo Pepoli sold the city to the archbishop of Milan Matteo Visconti, it was after ten years that Bologna was returned to the papal state. In the mid-fifteenth century, the city managed to obtain part of its independence from the papacy, under the lordship of the Bentivoglio family. This was followed by a period of great cultural and economic rebirth, until the city once again passed to the State of the Church, having a long phase of arrest. During this period the city was the site of important events such as the coronation of Charles V or the meeting between Pope Leo With Napoleon the city first became the capital of the Cispadane Republic and subsequently the second centre, after Milan, of the Cisalpine Republic. It participated with commitment in the Risorgimento struggles and was annexed to the Italian state in 1859. Bologna was the center of partisan resistance during the Second World War and was damaged by bombing. It was especially during the Seventies that Bologna managed to have a strong demographic expansion

What see

Within its medieval walls, dating back to the 14th century, Bologna has almost entirely preserved its original appearance, with houses and palaces built with the typical Emilian red brick. In the following list we will suggest, among the many attractions offered by the city, those not to be missed.
Piazza Maggiore Bologna - photo by Zolli from it.wikipedia.org
Piazza Maggiore Bologna - photo by Zolli from it.wikipedia.org

Piazza Maggiore

You could start your tour from Piazza Maggiore , which was once the place where the people gathered. It was created in the 13th century. just to express the "bolognesità", in fact around the square there are the main historical buildings of the city, such as Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo della Podestà, Palazzo Re Enzo and Palazzo dei Bianchi. In the center of the square you will notice a pink granite platform, the crescentone, built in 1934 which was however damaged in 1945, the day of the liberation of the city, by an American tank. Also in Piazza Maggiore you can see the beautiful Fountain of Neptune and the Basilica of San Petronio .
Bologna Palazzo Comunale or D'Accursio - Picture of alex1965 from Pixabay
Bologna Palazzo Comunale or D'Accursio - Picture of alex1965 from Pixabay

Town Hall - Palazzo Podestà

The Palazzo comunale of Bologna (known as Palâz) or Palazzo D'Accursio, is today the seat of the municipal city administration and you can recognize it by the statue of the late sixteenth century by Pope Gregory XIII, which recalls the power exercised in the past by the Papal Legate over the city. The Palazzo del Podestà it was raised following the redevelopment of the Piazza Maggiore area. I know it can recognize thanks to the arcades and its tall central tower, the Torre dell'Arengo, inside which there is a bell of the fifteenth century, known as "il campanazzo", which sounded in case of danger to warn the population.
Bologna Basilica of San Domenico - by flickr.com
Bologna Basilica of San Domenico - by flickr.com

Basilica of San Domenico

The Basilica of San Domenico was built between 1121, the year of the death of the founder of the order and 1233, to give an adequate seat to the tomb. Inside there are works by Nicola and Giunta Pisano, Niccolò dell'Arca, Michelangelo, Filippino Lippi, Guercino, Guido Reni, Carracci. The Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna is located in the former convent of Sant'Ignazio. The museum has a rich collection of Emilian painting from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century and also includes non-Bolognese artists but who may have been passing through the city. Palazzo Poggi, the main seat of the University of Bologna, was built following the project of Pellegrino Tibaldi, who also made some beautiful frescoes. The palace belonged to Cardinal Poggi, then to the Montecuccoli family of condottieri and to the Bankers. In 1711 it was purchased by the Senate and, in 1714, it became the seat of the Institute of Sciences.
Bologna Archiginnasio - photo by flickr.com/photos/jafsegal
Bologna Archiginnasio - photo by flickr.com/photos/jafsegal

Archiginnasio

Described as one of the most beautiful buildings in Bologna, the Archiginnasio was completed in 1563 by the architect Antonio di Bernardino Morandi. Until 1803 it was the main headquarters of the University of Bologna and since 1838 it has housed the city's Civic Library. The interior rooms are also worth a visit: the Hall of Legists and the Hall of Artists. Also in Bologna there are canals, which can now be partially visited with rubber dinghies, while once they were visited with the "bucintoro". Bologna is among the cities with the most arcades in the world : just think that there are 40 kilometers, or 50 considering those outside the city center, so as to be included in the "Tentative list" of the candidate sites for UNESCO protection. The arcades were born in the Middle Ages the consistency migration of individuals in the city and also following the creation of the University. It is also thanks to them that the development of social relations increases, even with adverse weather conditions.
Bologna - Torre degli Asinelli
Bologna - Torre degli Asinelli

Torre Asinelli

At the time both Goethe and Carducci appreciated the view of the city from the Towers . The latter represent one of the most characteristic features of the city, among the most famous are the Torre degli Asinelli and the Torre della Garisenda. Probably they were raised to be used by the richest families as an instrument of offense and defense, or even as a symbol of power. In fact, during the Middle Ages, the towers represented a real status of power by the families who owned them. In the city there were more than a hundred towers, and over the years only about twenty survived. The Neptune Fountain was created by the sculptor Jean de Boulogne from Douai and is nicknamed al Żigànt in dialect ("the giant" in Italian) by the Bolognese, due to the size of the statue of Neptune. It was wanted by Pier Donato Cesi, both to embellish the new Piazza del Nettuno and to symbolize the greatness of the pontifical government of Pius IV. In this regard there is an anecdote: in fact the sculptor who created it wanted to make the larger genitals, in harmony with the rest of the sculpture, but he had to yield to the requests of the church. So the artist, nicknamed Gianbologna, created a left thumb for revenge, and the latter, through a game of perspective, seemed to sprout from the lower abdomen as if it were an erect penis. The second anecdote concerns a superstitious gesture of the Bolognese students, who at the approach of the exam date, make two turns counterclockwise around the fountain. The fountain is in Piazza Maggiore.
Bologna - Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca - Photo by cantami0diva0 <br> by Pixabay
Bologna - Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca - Photo by cantami0diva0
by Pixabay

Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca

The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca , located on the Guardia hill, is an important sanctuary and historic destination for pilgrims to venerate the Virgin and Child, known as "San Luca". According to legend it was brought to the mountain by a Greek pilgrim-hermit. There is another legend in this regard that in 1433 the canvas with the Blessed Virgin of St. Luke was carried through the streets of Bologna during a procession to invoke the end of spring rains, which threatened the crops. The rains ceased, thus giving great popularity to the sanctuary. Regarding the third anecdote, in 1677 a long human chain collaborated in the construction of the arcade leading to the sanctuary. The Museum of History is located inside a historic city palace, owned by the Pepoli family until 1910. It is also a museum interactive that in addition to telling the story of the city, refers to other museums in other cities. It was born to demonstrate how the city has been a cultural and artistic site throughout history.
Bologna Cathedral of San Pietro - photo by flickr.com
Bologna Cathedral of San Pietro - photo by flickr.com

St. Peter's Cathedral

Cathedral of San Pietro has a typically baroque exterior facade: with a red brick wall structure and marble decorations. Its construction took place between the 10th and 11th centuries, although the church, as we can admire it today, took shape at the beginning of the 17th century, thanks to the works of the architect Floriano Ambrosini. Later the building was renovated by Alfonso Torreggiani and Cosimo Morelli, who eliminated the Gothic-Roman forms that were there before, favoring those of the Baroque art. Inside, a bell of 33 quintals is imposed, among the largest in the city. The Basilica of San Petronio was the church where Charles V was crowned in 1530. It is the largest church in Bologna and although part of it has remained unfinished, it is one of the largest churches in Europe and a jewel of Gothic art. In the central portal, created by Jacopo della Quercia, scenes from the Old and New Testament are represented.
Enzo Ferrari Modena Museum - photo by Morio from it.wikipedia.org
Enzo Ferrari Modena Museum - photo by Morio from it.wikipedia.org

clock of Piazza delle Oro d'Oro

The Piazza delle Medaglie d'Oro clock is located in the square of the same name and is famous because it is stopped at 10.25 am. This is due to a bomb, which broke out in the city's train station on 2 August 1980, killing 85 people. Francesca Mambro and Valerio Fioravanti were sentenced, two exponents of the subversive right who are currently still a couple. Although it has been put into operation over the years, it was decided to leave it at that time, in memory of the victims of that tragic event. The Museum for the Memory of Ustica represents another tragic event of 1980: a civil plane crashed off the island of Ustica, causing the death of the 81 people who were on board, and today it is still a story that conceals mysteries . The museum was established precisely so as not to forget such a dramatic event. Emilia Romagna, as we all know, is famous for its automotive industry: such as Ducati, Lamborghini and Ferrari. In fact, a museum was dedicated to Enzo Ferrari in Modena , while in Maranello there is an exhibition dedicated to the formula 1 and the World Championships.

Movida and entertainment

The nightlife in Bologna, thanks to the presence of numerous university students, is very active. In fact, it is possible to find numerous premises open until 4 am. Irish pubs are among the major venues and the nightlife is concentrated in the student quarter, in the historic center and in the streets around Piazza Maggiore, especially via Pratello, via Zamboni and via delle Belle Arti.
Bologna Mercato Santo Stefano - Photos by Flickr.com
Bologna Mercato Santo Stefano - Photos by Flickr.com
If you love listening to live music, there is Cantina Bentivoglio, a place where many international and Italian jazz musicians have played, and the great Lucio Dalla has also played here. The Cassino LGBT center, is the principal committee of the Arcigay of Bologna, in which numerous events are organized. In this site of "rights for all" the most eccentric and crazy events in the city are hosted. The Osteria de Poeti is the oldest tavern in Bologna and has been in operation since the 16th century. You will find the typical furniture that one expects when entering a historic inn: vaulted brick ceilings, stone walls or old wine barrels. Even in this place you can listen to live music. It is located near the Two Towers and Piazza Maggiore, and was once frequented by figures of Italian culture such as Carducci, Pascoli and Lucio Dalla. The Teatro Comunale , on the other hand, is home to cultural performances such as opera and ballet. For lovers of classical music, there is the Sala Mozart, at the Bologna Philharmonic Academy. The great Mozart was only 14 years old when he graduated in composition at this academy. Among the musicians who had important relations with the Academy, there are: Gioacchino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, and many others. For those who prefer techno and hardcore music, there is the Link Project, one of the most beautiful nightclubs in the city: the venue has four ballrooms arranged on two levels and each of them is characterized by variable frequency and speed sounds, to depending on customers' tastes.
Climate, curiosity and advice
Climate: in Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, the climate is semi-continental of the Po valley, with cold and wet winters and hot and sultry summers. The average temperature in January is 3 ° C, while that of July is 24.5 ° C. Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year, although there are two maximums in spring and autumn and in minimum in winter and summer. The fog was a frequent time, while today it is present only in the periods in which the Atlantic high pressure dominates.
Curiosity: according to many, in the song of Lucio From the "Piazza Grande" he referred to Piazza Maggiore; in fact many claim that he was referring to Piazza Cavour, where the singer-songwriter lived as a young man. If you want to enjoy a romantic moment, look out onto the window of Via Piella: from here you can see the Moline canal, and you'll have a truly romantic glimpse in front of your eyes. If you pass through Strada Maggiore, you will see three arrows stuck in the ceiling. According to the legend, 3 brigands intent on robbing a Bolognese nobleman, let themselves be distracted by a naked woman and, aiming wrongly, shot the arrows towards the ceiling. Many aspects recall an esoteric past of Bologna, and always in Strada Maggiore you will be able to see satanic faces carved in the keystones of the arcade of Palazzo Tartagni; it is said that the arcade represents the devil, and to confirm it are the arches, 666 precisely. Passing through Palazzo del Podestà you can meet people who experience the acoustic effects between Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo di Re Enzo. You can try whispering something on one side of the vault to make it feel on the other side.
Tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce - FotoosVanRobin photo from it.m.wikipedia.org
Tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce - FotoosVanRobin photo from it.m.wikipedia.org

Advice: Bologna must be known, walking through its arcades; Bologna must be breathed, inebriated by the smells of the "la Piazzolla" market; Bologna should be savored, in what are its typical products (tortellini, mortadella, cured meats, wines) served in the many restaurants of the center; Bologna must be listened to, entering one of the many places where they make live music, so loved by the late singer Lucio Dalla; Bologna must be seen during the day, but also at night; Bologna is loved, through a chat with an elderly Bolognese; Bologna must be squeezed, to drink to the culture of its many centuries ... but above all advice I tell you that Bologna must be LIVED not visited !!

Italian cities of art