Bologna History and Culture
Known for its brilliant performing arts
Of all of Bologna's many bright spots, its most brilliant is its performing arts; and thankfully, due to the minimal crowds, getting tickets is relatively easy. The Teatro Comunale, built in 1763, is famous for hosting some of the world's best opera, ballet, and orchestral performances, attracting such juggernauts as the world-renowned Luciano Pavarotti who performed here regularly in the 1970s. Classic music aficionados will be happy to learn that Bologna is home to one of Europe's best philharmonics, most famous for its performances of Mozart, who earned his a diploma in music composition from its Academy in the 18th century (Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna) For those wanting to embrace the very present hipper side of Bologna, jazz and other music venues permeate the city, which more often than not are accompanied by food and drink.
As far as sightseeing goes, Bologna offers a multitude of options. At the northern end of the aptly named Piazza Maggiore (loosely translating to "really big piazza") lies the Neptune Fountain, sculpted by Giambologna. As you will notice, this piece of 16th-century art is rather erotic; however, originally it was far more so, with Neptune proudly displaying his rather prominent, well, gladius. Consequently the church made its creator downsize the sea-god, which made the castrated Neptune a symbol for Bologna's liberal ideals and opposition to Europe's religious powers. In the very same piazza is the Basilica di San Petronio, unique for its missing façade. It is popularly believed that when it was under construction, the Papacy caught wind of some scheme to make it even larger than Rome's San Pietro, thus, through a Papal decree the Basilica's construction slackened. But despite having begun construction at the end of the 14th century, 300 years later the Basilica was still incomplete. These shortcomings aside, it is a tremendously impressive structure that hosted the coronation of Emperor Charles V in 1530. Also in the Piazza Maggiore is the Basilica di San Domenico and the Palazzo Comunale, both worth prolonged visits. In the former lies what many herald as Michelangelo's practice attempt at the David, the San Procolo. And the Piazza Maggiore is a superlative locale for either a mid-afternoon espresso or cappuccino or a traditional aperativo (traditional Italian pre-dinner drink), which is an ideal way to prime your palate for a lovely night filled with culinary pleasure.
While the people of Compania might disagree, most experts praise Bologna's cuisine as the best in Italy. In the tradition of its region, Emilia-Romagna, Bologna is famous for its sausages. A favorite is zampone, a cured sausage made from the minimal, but tasty feet of a pig. One must be advised that few things are tastier than a slice of zampone paired with a nice glass of red wine, and be reminded of the reality that most sausages are made from generally unappealing animal parts - so don't be afraid to try it! Bologna's most famous sausage, after which America's cold-cut bologna is named, is mortadella. This is truly a delicacy, and can be eaten casually in a wine bar while sipping on local wine, or as a sublime antipasto (Italy's take on the appetizer) or creatively infused into a pasta dish. And what trip to Bologna could be had without trying authentic bolognese sauce over some fresh fettuccine or over other Bolognese inventions tortellini or lasagne verdi. Speaking of which, despite its simplicity, tortellini con brodo is a remarkably delicious soup, like chicken noodle soup with stuffed pasta. Wine-wise, while Emilia Romagna is rarely considered a first-rate wine region by the supposed experts, the local wine is excellent, particularly when consumed with the local food. Depending on what you are eating, two favorites are the white Trebbiano di Romanga and the red Sangiovese di Romagna, designed to be the perfect companion to Bologna's cuisine.
Vacations you may enjoy in Bologna:
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