The regional capital of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna is situated south of the Po Valley, on the slopes of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. A lively cultural centre and the seat of the oldest university in Europe, Bologna boasts a millenary history and gathers an inestimable artistic heritage. Bologna's old town, which is one of the largest in Italy, is a handsome ensemble of brick buildings and charming porticoed streets. Impressive medieval palaces are clustered around the two central squares. Walking down the narrow streets of the city centre, visitors will have the opportunity to discover its thousand facets while enjoying utmost profusion.

A traditional holiday destination for tourists from all over the world, Bologna gathers a dazzling array of accommodation options. The city centre is scattered with comfortable 3-star guesthouses and well-kept 4-star hotels which offer tourists excellent services and facilities. All year round, Bologna Fiere Exhibition Centre attracts large numbers of business travellers from all over Europe; they will have the opportunity to stay at comfortable hotels situated near the Exhibition Centre and to take advantage of targeted accommodation facilities provided with well-equipped meeting rooms, state-of-the-art conference facilities and private car park.

Settled since the Villanovian Age, Bologna achieved utmost splendour during the period of the medieval city-republics, when it became a free Commune and an important commercial centre. The city kept on expanding till the late Middle Ages, when most tower houses and porticos were built. It is characterized by over 40 kilometres of porticos, which were all built during the Middle Ages and over the following centuries. Apart from porticos and impressive monuments, the medieval origins of the city are evidenced by red pastel-coloured houses, the remains of impressive city walls and the well-preserved entrance gates which were realized between the XIII and the XV century. Bologna's University was founded during the Middle Ages too, and currently stands out as the most prestigious western university. It attracts large numbers of students from all over Europe. A lot of both sacred and civic buildings date back to this fertile period. Among these, the beautiful Romanesque Complex of St. Stefano, the two leaning towers which are the symbol of the city, the Gothic churches of St. Domenico, St. Francesco, St. Maria dei Servi and St. Giacomo Maggiore, whose interiors cherish inestimable works of art, and the great Gothic temple of St. Petronio, which dominates the monumental Piazza Maggiore. The nearby square, which hosts the merloned Palazzo del Re Enzo, which is now the seat of a modern library and of interesting displays of contemporary art, is dominated by the famous Neptune Fountain, which was realized by Gianbologna in the 16th century in the traditional Mannerist style from Florence, which was widely employed in Bologna. Note Palazzo Bevilacqua, Archiginnasio and some sumptuous palaces of Via Galliera.
The elegant streets of Bologna's city centre, such as via Ugo Bassi, Rizzoli, Indipendenza, Marconi and Farini, give tourists the possibility to walk across impressive monuments while going shopping in stylish boutiques, small workshops and local shops selling curious items. Via Zamboni is situated just in the heart of the university district, even if plenty of faculties are now distributed nearly everywhere across the old town. Halfway between via Zamboni and via Belle Arti are the historic Academy of Art and the National Picture Gallery, which both gather precious works of art realized by acclaimed exponents of the School of Bologna. The city is also scattered with plenty of trendy clubs, popular inns and lively gathering places which in the evening gather large numbers of students from all over Italy and abroad. Absorbing cultural events, shows and concerts, the building of new art galleries and the organization of interesting exhibitions underline the city's commitment to the improvement of both cultural and artistic standards.
Apart from business travellers, students and the lovers of art and culture, gourmets too are attracted by traditional specialities from Bologna, which are served both by elegant restaurants and typical trattorias. Among the most appreciated local staples are tortellini, tagliatelle and mortadella. The city also produces excellent wines, such as Pignoletto, Barbera and Pinot Bianco.

For further information, display the Guidebook of Bologna provided by Ricerca Hotel.com