Bologna: Italy’s Culinary Capital

This vibrant capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, is Italy’s premier culinary capital and home to the Western world’s oldest university.

Known affectionately by three nicknames—La Grassa (The Fat), La Dotta(The Learned), and La Rossa (The Red)—the city is famous for its rich food, historic academia, and red-brick architecture.

The leaning Asinelli and Garisenda towers are the ultimate symbols of the city, built by rival families in the 12th century.

Piazza Maggiore is the grand central square anchored by the monumental Basilica of San Petronioand the historic Fontaine of Neptune.

The Porticoes are a UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of 62 kilometres of covered walkways that shelter the city’s sidewalks.

The San Luca Sanctuary is a hilltop church connected to the city by the world’s longest continuous portico, spanning 3.8 kilometres and 666 arcades.

Gastronomy

Bologna sits at the heart of Italy’s “Food Valley.” It is the birthplace or primary hub for several of the world’s most famous Italian ingredients:

Tagliatelle al Ragù is the authentic, slow-cooked meat sauce incorrectly known worldwide as “Bolognese”. It is never served with spaghetti here.

Mortadella: The historic, heat-cured pork sausage seasoned with black pepper and pistachios.

Tortellini in Brodo: Delicate, meat-filled ring-shaped pasta served traditionally in a rich capon broth.

The Quadrilatero: A bustling maze of ancient market streets packed with traditional food stalls, cheese mongers, and local trattorias.

The city serves as the perfect base to explore nearby producers of Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.

Learning

The University of Bologna founded in 1088, is the oldest university in continuous operation in the world.

The Archiginnasio Palace Is a 16th-century university seat featuring the spectacular Teatro Anatomico, a wooden amphitheatre used for historical corpse dissections.

Destination: Italy