Location: Santo Stefano
Top Things to do in Santo Stefano
Things to do in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna: The Best Sights & Landmarks
While crowds of tourists fill Venice, Florence and Rome, Bologna remains relatively quiet in comparison. This medieval university town is charming, historic and fun to explore… and you'll find Bologna's local cuisine is light-years away from the American deli meat bearing the city's name.
Restaurants in Bologna
1. Basilica - Santuario di Santo Stefano
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5,097 reviews
Reviewed By Marla7 - Naas, Ireland
The Santo Stefano complex includes 7 interconnected churches, each with its own style and history, with parts dating back to the early Middle Ages. I definitely recommend to take your time to visit the whole complex, the museum and even the gift shop. Great way to escape the heat too, if visiting in the summer!
2. Compianto sul Cristo Morto
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By Cartagena2019 - Cartagena, Colombia
Once you enter the church Santa Maria della Vita, you have to go to the box office and purchase the tickets to view this set of remarkable statues: quite rightly so, as Niccolò dell’Arca, allegedly form Dalmatia, created one of the most beautiful sets of sculptures, expressing unbearable pain, almost naturalistic, of those around Christ upon his death, especially Mary magdalene and Madonna. Perhaps the greatest artistic treasures in Bologna an absolute must.
3. Basilica di San Domenico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 873 reviews
Reviewed By Jo_and_Tom - Anna, United States
This church is very close to Hotel Touring. Looking at it you wouldn't think much of it until you get inside and have a guide who tells the story of the Church. The Tomb of Saint Dominic (Dominican founder) is located here. One of his relics is his skull entombed in a gold reliquary which is at the back of the altar. Michaelangelo was several years in Bologna as a student. One of his contribution to the tomb was a small "Clothed David" and his student also contributed a statue to same tomb. Outside were some unusual tombs which are elevated versus on the ground. They are two of the Bologna University founders - Doctors of Law. The one interesting point our guide explained that Beethoven played in this church when his father was Music Master. Beethoven in order to play had to pass a test and couldn't because he didn't know music theory on how to compose, even though he was composing at that age. Finally the choir master stated this boy was a genius and his compositions were far superior than other organ players so he was allowed to play.
4. Basilica di San Petronio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,125 reviews
Reviewed By adaniels83 - Leeds, United Kingdom
This is a beautiful elegant and rather large church, entry is free, if you would like to take photos inside then there is a €2 charge with the proceeds going towards restoration of the many elements of the church. I read many times about people not being allowed in wearing shorts... that is a lie there were plenty of people wearing shorts and with legs on show and there was not one bit of animosity towards them!! The workmanship of the church is quite stunning and in my opinion a must see, the torri degli Asinelli was closed for renovations on our trip so as an alternative way of obtaining Ariel views of the city go to the rear of the church where for €3 you can get to the top and a viewing platform where the views are great.
5. Libreria Ulisse
6. Palazzo Comunale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 494 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
The beautiful atmosphere of the main town square can be attributed to the Palazzo d'Accursio. The beautiful atmosphere was evoked by the famous musician Luccio Dalla in his unforgettable song Piazza Grande. The Palazzo D’Accursio or Comunale, located in the center of Bologna in Piazza Maggiore, is one of the most important buildings in Bologna, which has been the seat of the city since 1336. Now is the city's Town Hall. A significant building for the city of Bologna, rich in history. The earliest structure of the Palazzo d'Accursio originally began as the residence of the jurist Accursius, but over time, it was incorporated and expanded to include adjacent buildings to house civic offices. In 1336 it became the seat of the Anziani ("Elders"), the highest magistrates of the commune, and then the seat of the government. In the 15th century it was refurbished under the designs of architect Fioravante Fioravanti, who added the Clock Tower (Torre d'Accursio). The façade features a portcullis and a Madonna with Child, a terracotta by Niccolò dell'Arca (1478) in the upper section. Over the portal is a large bronze statue of Bolognese Pope Gregory XIII (1580). A bronze statue of Pope Boniface VIII, once here, is now in the Medieval Museum. Inside the complex it is possible to visit, climbing the sixteenth-century cordoned staircase attributed to Bramante, up to the Hall of the Communal Council, on the first floor, where the Bolognese Senate met, and contains a gallery ceiling frescoed with Baroque-style quadrature by Angelo Michele Colonna and Gioacchino Pizzoli (1675–1677). The palace is also home to the Civic Art Collection, with paintings from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, the Museo Morandi, with the works by Giorgio Morandi, and the Biblioteca Salaborsa, the town libraries.
7. Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,823 reviews
The colossal towers were built by Bologna's important families in the 12th century.
Reviewed By minkerryc
It is not often you get to climb a medieval tower nearly 1000 years old. There are 500 steps and those with claustrophobia or fear of heights may struggle. The view at the top is worth it though.
8. Piazza Maggiore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,773 reviews
Reviewed By nwaf247 - London, United Kingdom
The Centre of Bologna to meet or stroll or sit with drink or visit many of the historic sites surrounding The Piazza. Should be first stop when you arrive for first time.
9. Teatro Anatomico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,401 reviews
Reviewed By ColinNY
A beautiful room, and the portraits and statues look down and watch. Galen, Hippocrates and others. There is a peace and solemness, as you sit where students watched and learned, centuries ago.
10. Portico del Pavaglione
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
Arriving in Bologna we were delighted with the beautiful architecture of the streets enriched with Portici ( Arcades ), which makes this city even more charming. The arcades of Bologna (Portici), almost 40 km long, make the city of Bologna unique in the world as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 1100, when the growth of the University has pushed to invent a new urban space, the arcades have become a place, at the same time public and private, of sociability and commerce, an open-air lounge that is a symbol of Bolognese hospitality. In 1288 with a Statute, the Municipality of Bologna established that all new houses must be built with a masonry portico and existing ones that lacked them were required to add it. Born and still remain as private property for public use, they are an identifying element of the Felsine capital, as well as a reference point for a sustainable urban lifestyle, in which religious spaces, civil buildings, commercial centers and all social classes are perfectly integrated. The arcades in Bologna offered and offer shelter from the weather and the sun, allowing you to walk the roads in any weather. Furthermore, they constituted and also constitute a means for the expansion of commercial and artisan activities. Among many Portici stands out for its beauty Portico del Pavaglione. Portico del Pavaglione, which extends from Via De 'Musei to Via Farini, flanking Via dell'Archiginnasio and Piazza Galvani. The domestic people love strolling under this elegant portico lined with high-end shops. It is 139 meters long and features 30 arches. Along the way, we will find the Archiginnasio, the first unified seat of Bologna's Studio (University), built in the mid-16th century. The portico owes its name to the Piazza del Pavaglione (now Piazza Galvani) where the silkworm market was held (a pavajon in the Bolognese dialect means Pavilion, there was a pavilion to shelter the cocoons when Bologna was the site of a thriving silk industry). At the end of Portico del Pavaglione is a historic cafè of Bologna, Caffè Zanarini.
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