Bologna, a city with more than a million inhabitants sits in the central part of Italy. It is one of the major cities in the country as it has a lot of ancient history tied to it. The city has been ruled by several kingdoms before and therefore the culture of the place is unique; you can see different styles of architecture from different rulers and their eras. There are various tourist places to visit in Bologna that include historical monuments, old structures, open squares, food markets and Basilicas. Have a look at our selection of places to go to and decide for yourself which one to check off of your list.

At the center of the city is the beautiful square of Piazza Maggiore which serves as a significant historical square of Bologna. The square is brimming with various important building like the Basilica di San Petronio, Pallazo d’Accursio, Palazzo Comunale and the Palazzo del Podesta. You can the Piazza Maggiore to see the beautiful Palaces and the Basilica and appreciate the intricate architecture or you can simply sit and enjoy a scrumptious Italian meal by a local restaurant.

The San Pentronio is the world’s 10^th largest church and is absolutely immense in structure and size. This huge structure is located in Piazza Maggiore and stands tall to dominate the rest of the structures in the square. The church was constructed in 1388 and was dedicated to Saint Petronius, the patron saint of Bologna. The church has a Gothic architectural style with an unfinished front façade. The structure has colored marble stone work on the exterior with large columns adorned with decoration on the inside of the church.

Offering an excellent insight of the history of Bologna, the Bologna Archeological Museum is a fascinating place to visit for anyone interested in museums and art. The museum is divided into 9 different sections namely; Prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Celtic and Numismatic. That way it becomes easy to understand the history of the place as well. Various artifacts like weapons, china and marble statues, bronze tools, pottery and many other objects are exhibited so that people visiting can learn about the region’s history.

The La Piazolla Market is a market that has been in Bologna for more than a hundred years and continues to thrive amongst locals as well as tourists. This market is located in Piazza del Agosto and features over 400 different stalls and shops that sell practically anything and everything and includes items like shoes, clothes, fashion accessories, jewellery, pottery and many more things that one can take back as souvenirs or even gifts. The vendors and locals haggle and bargain for a good price and you can sense different smells of spices and foods, making this place very interesting to visit.

Santuario di Madonna di San Luca or the Sanctuary of Madonna was first structured in the year 1194 and was finally finished in 1765. This church sits on Monte della Guardia and offers great views of the city from top. The main building of the church has a central basilica and made in Baroque style of architecture. The interior of the church is even more beautiful with varieties of frescos depicting important religious scenes and fantastic decoration on the walls.

The Oratory of Battuti is a small chapel that is located within the Santa Maria della Vita and has some intricate design and detailing done. This structure was constructed in 1604 and is one of the rarest things to see in Bologna. Included within the oratory is an array of sculptures and a variety of beautiful mosaics that are absolutely noteworthy. Along with all of this, the walls also have other religious iconography.

Located in the Piazza Santo Stefano, the St, Stephen Basilica is a historical religious place of worship. The structures stand with many other incredible buildings that include the Church of Saint John the Baptist, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the courtyard of Pilate. At the first glimpse at the start of te complex, you may think that there is only one church, but when you peep in a little bit more you can see the other structures as well. The design and architecture of this Basilica is absolutely incredible and worth stopping by and spending a few moments in.

The leaning Tower of Pisa is not the only one. Bologna has a pair of leaning towers as well. The pair of towers that make up the structure are not evenly heighted; one is taller than the other. Bologna has many towers but this pair, the leaning towers of Bologna stand tall in the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana and are iconic. The shorter towers of the two is called Garisenda and is 48 m long, while the taller tower measures up to 97.2 m and was used as a prison in olden times. Climb up either of these towers to get an unprecedented view of the city and its landscapes.