Self-guided walks in Bologna

Enjoy Bologna and its art!

An app for Android smartphones lets you explore Bologna’s monuments, churches and other places of interest, and discover the artworks they house.

Follow routes chosen by expert guides, or pick the sights and artworks you’d like to see.

Get the ItalGuide app and take an audio tour of Bologna’s landmarks and artworks at your own pace.

The suggested routes are as follows:

BOLOGNA GUIDE APP

ONE-DAY ITINERARY

The most important works and monuments to visit on foot in one day. (Suggested route. See the app for the full itinerary.)

Start in Montagnola Park, a short walk from the station. On Fridays and Saturdays, look out for the market where you can find antiques and curiosities at competitive prices. Alternatively, start your walk towards the center from Via dell’Indipendenza, the shopping street with stores and bars.
The route, up to Piazza Maggiore, takes place under the arcades that have made Bologna famous around the world.
You will cross the Arena del Sole theater, whose statues you can admire from the Garibaldi statue that dominates the square. Before arriving at Piazza Maggiore, you will encounter the Cathedral of San Pietro, which is worth admiring both inside and out.
At the end of Via dell’Indipendenza, you will find the square with the Neptune fountain, the Sala Borsa opposite, and the Palazzo di Re Enzo, all adjacent to Piazza Maggiore with the Palazzo del Comune or Accursio, the Palazzo del Podestà, and the Basilica of San Petronio. Of the latter, you can admire the most significant works and chapels.

Little secrets: for the Statue of Neptune, ask a Bolognese to show you the tile where you can see a finger of the statue through the perspective of shame; for the Voltone del Podestà, experience the special acoustic effect by standing with a companion in two opposite corners and speaking to each other in low voices.

Behind the Basilica under the porticos you will find the Archiginnasio and Piazza Galvani. At this point take a break and enter the market of the Quadrilatero, in one of the streets that lead to Piazza Maggiore, to browse and also to grab a snack in one of the many local eateries.
Then move on to the 2 towers and the Palazzo della Mercanzia and from there continue to the left towards Piazza Santo Stefano with the Basilica of the same name.
To end the day, head back under the Two Towers to venture into the Jewish Ghetto and make a stop at the Canale delle Moline in Via Piella to see the water canals and indulge in a tasty apericena in one of the many local eateries still in the Quadrilatero or in the university area or at the Mercato delle Erbe on Via Ugo Bassi.

2-DAY ITINERARY

To fully enjoy all the works and monuments of Bologna. (Suggested route. See the app for the full itinerary.)

ON FOOT AND USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Our itinerary starts at Piazza Maggiore by the Statue of Neptune with the Palazzo Re Enzo to its left and to the right the Salaborsa Library. Next to the latter is the Town Hall Palace or Accursio, to visit its most significant works and rooms inside.
Returning to Piazza Maggiore, you could admire the Palazzo dei Notai and next to it the Basilica of San Petronio, with important works and chapels inside. Facing it, the Palazzo del Podestà where you can admire, just behind the Tourism Office, the Voltone with its extraordinary acoustic effect.
Returning to the piazza, head left of the Basilica of San Petronio to reach Piazza Galvani where you will find the entrance to the Archiginnasio, with the Santa Maria dei Bulgari Chapel on the ground floor and the Library inside.

Exiting the Archiginnasio, turn right and enter one of the streets on the right: you will enter the area known as the Quadrilatero Market, where you will find various shops and local businesses in a timeless atmosphere, perfect for a moment of respite. In the same area, on Via Clavature, you will find the Sanctuary-Museum of Santa Maria della Vita, where, in addition to temporary exhibitions, there is the famous Lamentation Over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell'Arca. Now head towards Piazza della Mercanzia and the two Towers: visit the Palazzo della Mercanzia and, if you wish, the Torre degli Asinelli. Then head left of the Palazzo della Mercanzia and you will be in Piazza Santo Stefano, one of the magical places in Bologna. Here you can admire the Basilica of Santo Stefano, also known as the seven churches. In the center of the square, turn left into Via de' Pepoli and continue until you reach Piazza Minghetti, then head left into Piazza San Domenico where you will visit the Basilica of San Domenico and its chapels. Then head back and enjoy some shopping by passing through Piazza Cavour, Via Farini, and Via d'Azeffon. Here you can also admire Lucio Dalla's house. Then head into Via Ugo Bassi and head towards the Basilica of San Francesco, which is also worth visiting inside. Head back towards the university area and visit the Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore and the works inside. In the university area, but on the other side of Via Zamboni, visit the Jewish Ghetto area and possibly the Jewish Museum. Then take a quick stop at Piazza San Martino to admire the small window on Via Piella with the Moline canal. Then Via dell’Indipendenza and the Montagnola Park. Are you ready to complete your tour with the inevitable visit to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, which can be reached by car or public transportation.

Recommended itinerary (to be split into two days)

1st day

Piazza Maggiore
Fountain of Neptune
Palazzo Re Enzo
Salaborsa Library
Palazzo d’Accursio – Artworks and Historic Rooms
Palazzo dei Notai
Basilica of San Petronio – Artworks and Chapels
Palazzo del Podestà – Vaulted Passageway
Archiginnasio – Library – Chapel of Santa Maria dei Bulgari
Piazza Galvani
Quadrilatero Market (Via Foscherari, Via de’ Musei, Via Clavature, Via Pescherie, Via Orefici)
Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita
Garisenda Tower
Asinelli Tower
Palazzo della Mercanzia – Interior Rooms
Piazza Santo Stefano
Basilica of Santo Stefano, also known as the Seven Churches
Basilica of San Domenico – Chapels
Piazza Cavour
Lucio Dalla’s House

Basilica of Saint Francis

Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore – Chapels
Jewish Ghetto
Canale delle Moline
Via dell’Indipendenza - Montagnola Park
Sanctuary of Our Lady of San Luca

THE MUST-HAVES

An itinerary for those with limited time who want to take home memories of the most important places in Bologna. (Suggested route. See the app for the full itinerary.)

The visit starts in Piazza Maggiore with the Statue of Neptune, the Palazzo Re Enzo, the Town Hall, the Basilica of San Petronio, and the Palazzo del Podestà. A walk through the Quadrilatero market area is then a must to reach Piazza della Mercanzia with its eponymous palace and, above all, the two Towers. Next, a dive into medieval Bologna with a visit to Piazza Santo Stefano and the Basilica of the Seven Churches, followed by a return to the center and a stop at the Canale delle Moline with the famous window on Via Piella.

Piazza Maggiore
Fountain of Neptune
Palazzo Re Enzo
Palazzo d’Accursio
Basilica of San Petronio
Palazzo del Podestà – Vaulted Passageway
Quadrilatero Market (Via Foscherari, Via de’ Musei, Via Clavature, Via Pescherie, Via Orefici)
Garisenda Tower
Asinelli Tower
Palazzo della Mercanzia
Piazza Santo Stefano
Canale delle Moline – the little window on Via Piella

THE TOWERS

Allow about two hours for this walk. See the app for the full, up-to-date route.

One starts from Piazza Maggiore with the Accursi or Clock Tower; then one proceeds towards Piazza Galileo Galilei with the Agresti Tower and nearby the Lapi Tower in the town hall. One turns left and heads towards Corte de’ Galluzzi with the Galluzzi Tower. From Corte de’ Galluzzi one exits through Piazza Galvani, one walks left on Via dell’Archiginnasio until the intersection with Via de’ Musei from where one turns right onto Via Clavature and then right onto Via Marchesana. Here one finds the Carrari Tower. Turning back onto Via Clavature, one turns right and advances until reaching Via Castiglione to arrive at Piazza della Mercanzia, where one finds the Palazzo della Mercanzia, and then right onto Via Santo Stefano to reach the Alberici Tower. Walking back along Via Santo Stefano, one arrives at Piazza di Porta Ravegnana where the Two Towers, symbol of medieval Bologna, are located. On the opposite side of the square one enters Via de’ Giudei and then Vicolo San Giobbe until Vicolo Mandria. Here one finds the Uguzzoni Tower. Continuing on to Via Oberdan, one turns right and then left onto Via San Nicolò, then right onto Via degli Albari and left onto Via degli Albiroli to find the Guidozagni House-Tower.
On the right on Via Sant’Alò one encounters the Prendiparte Tower, known as the Coronata. Arriving at Via Altabella one encounters the Azzoguidi Tower. From Via Altabella one follows to Piazza del Nettuno and passing under the Podestà’s Voltone to Piazza Re Enzo one finds the Lambertini Tower. Exiting the side onto Piazza del Nettuno one sees the Arengo Tower.

VISIT THE CITY HAVING FUN

FOLLOW THE CLUES - SOLVE THE PUZZLES - VISIT THE CITY

Are you looking for something to do with family and friends or want to spend a fun day in Bologna?
Then, why not explore the City with our themed treasure hunts?

Detective investigations, spy missions and classic treasure hunts.
Follow the trail and solve clues hidden on buildings, monuments and along the streets, discovering hidden corners and unravelling the city’s intriguing stories as you go.
Put your skills to the test, enjoy a few hours of fun and get to know the city along the way.
For children aged 6 and up — and grown-ups of all ages!