Have a look in your kitchen cupboard and the fridge – there’s a good chance that some of the delicious produce and inspired dishes of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy have found their way into your home. Parmesan cheese; balsamic vinegar from Modena; prosciutto; Bolognese sauce: the words alone are enough to make a belly grumble. Bologna is the capital of the region and, naturally, the place to pull up a seat and dine like a king.
When you’ve mopped your chin clean and paid the bill, take a tour of this historic city and marvel at the porticos, towers, fountains, public squares and terracotta roofs for which it’s famous. The city glows like a tray of Indian spices, especially when the sky is clear and the sun casts long shadows. The taste, however, is unreservedly Italian – and you might have to dust off that phrase book and learn a bit of the local lingo as English isn’t widely spoken.
Piazza Maggiore is a great place to start your sightseeing – from this central square, you can branch out in any direction and stumble upon attractions such as Torre degli Asinelli, the Basilica of San Petronio, Piazza Nettuno (Neptune’s Fountain), Santa Maria della Vita, and the famous curves and arches of I Portici: the many arcades that run for kilometres around central Bologna.
Save money on car rental when you book in advance. You can collect your pre-booked vehicle at Bologna Airport or a downtown location – whatever suits your travel plans. Use TravelSupermarket’s simple search tool to compare rates and book the best deal for you.
