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Bologna Culture & history

Our most recommended Bologna Culture & history

From Bologna: Roundtrip San Luca Train Ticket & Food Tasting

1. From Bologna: Roundtrip San Luca Train Ticket & Food Tasting

The Basilica of San Luca is one of the symbols of the city of Bologna. Situated on the Monte Guardia, the Sanctuary connects to the city center through the longest continuous portico in the world, made up of 666 arcades. At the meeting point, you'll receive a map and a timetable of the return train, which is available every 45 minutes. You’ll also receive a voucher for the food tasting.  This tour departs every day and will help you discover the city from aboard the San Luca Express train, where the audio guides, available in 8 languages, will tell you about the city until your arrival at the Basilica of San Luca. Here, you can visit the Basilica at your own pace and decide what time to return by consulting the schedules on the map. On board, you will find a member of staff who'll welcome you and provide any information you may require. When you return, you will get to taste typical products in one of the historical markets.

Bologna: Ferrari VIP Experience with Test Drive and Museum

2. Bologna: Ferrari VIP Experience with Test Drive and Museum

Live a whole day immersed in the Ferrari legend. This incredible tour will take you to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, where you will have the opportunity to relive the history of the Prancing Horse and experience the Ferrari F1 Simulator. Followed by a guided shuttle tour of the Ferrari Citadel in which the guide will share information about the factory, the history of the Fiorano racetrack and the entire Ferrari Citadel, which still retains the original entrance door to the factory. After this journey through the history of the brand, it's time to feel the power of the Prancing Horse! Enjoy a test drive with a Ferrari on the streets of Maranello for an unforgettable experience. To conclude the day, enjoy a complete lunch at the "Cavallino" restaurant, by the renowned chef Massimo Bottura.

From Bologna: Lamborghini & Ferrari Museums Private Day Tour

3. From Bologna: Lamborghini & Ferrari Museums Private Day Tour

Embark on a private tour of the Lamborghini and Ferrari museums from Bologna. Start with pickup from your hotel in Bologna. Discover the history of the iconic cars made in Italy on a tour in the Lamborghini Museum, from the first models such as the Miura and the Countach to the ultimate and exclusive ones like the Aventador SVJ. To follow, visit the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and enjoy a guided tour of the Cittadella Ferrari, in which the guide will share information about the factory, the history of the Fiorano racetrack, and of all the Cittadella Ferrari, which still preserves the original factory entrance door. At the end of the tour, stop at a local restaurant for a tasty lunch with typical products. Afterward, relax on the journey back to Bologna.

From Bologna: Ravenna Unesco Monuments Guided Tour

4. From Bologna: Ravenna Unesco Monuments Guided Tour

The site is of outstanding universal value being of remarkable significance by virtue of the supreme artistry of the mosaic art that the monuments contain, and also because of the crucial evidence that they provide of artistic and religious relationships and contacts at an important period of European cultural history. In this way the Unesco World Heritage motivated why eight monuments of Ravenna had been added to the World Heritage List. The eternal beauty of the mosaics guarded inside some of the most famous Ravenna Unesco monuments, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, Basilica of San Vitale, Battistero Neoniano and Chapel of Sant'Andrea. The visit that starts from Piazza San Francesco, into the city centre, and leads you to several Unesco monuments.

Bologna: Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour

5. Bologna: Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour

Get to know Bologna at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. Solve puzzles outside of ten Bologna attractions. Use clues at each attraction to find your next destination. Enjoy the challenge of using logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to complete the game. Feel the satisfaction of solving each riddle. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. Have the freedom to pause or resume the tour whenever you want. Admire the city at your own pace. Uncover interesting information and facts about the city. Snap as many pictures as you want.  You can start playing anytime, the schedule is indicative. Start your tour at Towers of Bologna. Visit the Biblioteca Salaborsa with its unique archives. Photograph the municipal complex of Palazzo d'Accursio and the chapel and admire the Santuario di Santa Maria della Vita with its original Gothic style and lifelike sculptures. Then head to the Salina Palace and Osteria Le Sette Chiese for some unbeatable photo opportunities. Admire the beautiful Piazza Minghetti and the interior of Basilica di San Domenico. The small but miraculous Oratorio dello Spirito Santo is well worth your time, and the icing on the cake is the Church of the Holy Savior.

Bologna: Parmesan, Vinegar, Lambrusco, Ferrari with Lunch

6. Bologna: Parmesan, Vinegar, Lambrusco, Ferrari with Lunch

You will start your day with a guided visit to a cheese factory and learn how aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is produced. Dive into the most authentic making of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO: from the curdling into the typical copper heaters to the salting and the final aging in the so-called wheel cathedrals, you will be a privileged witness of almost all the steps of production of this out-and-out food icon. Tasting at the end. What is the most famous supercar brand of all time? Of course, it is Ferrari. It was born just nearby, so you can't help but visit the Ferrari Museum in Maranello with cars, images and trophies that have marked the history of the brand, where you will be able to experience the places where the most beautiful cars in the world are designed. After, you will continue with a visit to an “Acetaia” and discover the production of the famous “black gold”, the precious traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena, which you will be able to taste at the end of your guided tour. Enjoy a typical Emilian lunch including cured meats, the ever-present pasta and a homemade dessert. Finally, visit a local winery and take a guided tour of the facilities to learn about Lambrusco, a sparkling wine from northern Italy. Please note, that the tour is offered only in a SELF DRIVE OPTION (=without transfer), you have to travel with your OWN car. NO TRANSFER is included.

From Bologna or Modena: Parma Gastronomic Tour with Lunch

7. From Bologna or Modena: Parma Gastronomic Tour with Lunch

Discover the production of two excellences of Italian cuisine, Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma Ham, on a gastronomic tour from Bologna. After being picked up from your accommodation in Bologna or Modena Learn more about Parma and its local cuisine that is so popular that it often ends up dominating conversations among locals. Visit a historic Parmigiano Reggiano factory where an expert guide will show you the stages of production, and you'll be able to taste some of the cheese made by the factory. Then, discover more about the production of Parma Ham. Learn the secrets of this Italian delicacy followed by a tasting paired with a glass of local wine.  Following your visit to the Parma Ham factory, enjoy a light lunch at a prosciuttificio with typical products and dishes. Finally, head back to your accommodation in Bologna or Modena.

Sanctuary of S. Luca with Train and Private Guide

8. Sanctuary of S. Luca with Train and Private Guide

The arcade that connects Porta Saragozza to the Sanctuary of San Luca is the longest in the world. Within its 3.5 kilometers there are 666 arches, each marked by a number: the first 306 connect Porta Saragozza to Meloncello Arch, while the last 360 are located in the hilly area from Meloncello to Colle della Guardia. These are spaced out by 15 chapels illustrating the mystery of the rosary. The tour starts from Piazza Maggiore with a little train ride to Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. Begin the guided tour with the Sanctuary of San Luca and its panoramic forecourt with an optional visit to the Dome of the Sanctuary to admire the panorama of the city. Enjoy the descent with a little train ride along the arcade that leads to Meloncello's Arch and then along via Saragozza. Passing through Porta Saragozza, arrive at the Collegio di Spagna and de'Carbonesi, continuing via Massimo d'Azeglio you’ll return to Piazza Maggiore.

Bologna: Churches and Cathedrals Walking Tour

9. Bologna: Churches and Cathedrals Walking Tour

Bologna is rich in well-known churches and cathedrals. From the Basilica of San Petronio to the Cathedral of San Pietro, you will discover the wonders of ecclesiastical Bologna. During the tour you will range from Gothic to Baroque churches crossing centuries of history. Did you know that San Petronio is the largest brick-built Gothic church in the world? Discover many other curiosities with your expert guide! At the end of your tour, enjoy a tasty treat in the city centre.

Bologna: Old Town Hidden Gems Exploration Game

10. Bologna: Old Town Hidden Gems Exploration Game

Be led on an exciting self-guided tour around Bologna's Old Town while playing a mobile-based quest with your friends and family. Solve clues and discover the fascinating history behind the monuments and attractions. Download the app, go to the starting point, and begin the adventure. Follow clues that will take you back in time to learn about the origins of some of the city's most iconic buildings and tourist sites. Here's a sneak peek at the storyline: “You’re an emerging writer from London, whose debut novel was a success. But now writers’ block has struck. The year is 1815. [...] In your despair, you’ve come to Bologna. You heard the city’s many secrets and artistic flair inspire many artists. You hope to be next...." Unlock the secret stories of the places you visit as you solve the problem and guess the answers. Learn about the seven secrets that cloak Bologna in mystery, the streets of the Quadrilatero, and more. Use the clues to lead you from one site to another. Each clue provides you with exact directions so you won't need a map, GPS, or guide. Complete the tour in about 1.5 hours, however, there’s no time limit, allowing you to go at your own pace. Play as a group or split into smaller groups/teams and compete against the others. Each person can also play on their own, separate from the group, and meet the group at the end of the tour.

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Frequently asked questions about Bologna

What are the best day trips and excursions from Bologna?

The best day trips and excursions from Bologna are:

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What people are saying about Bologna

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 149 reviews

It was easy and the train is great fun. Once up at San Luca, I recommend spending at least three hours to enjoy the cathedral (Pay the 3 euro for the sky experience), relax in the parklands and get some lunch in the Vita a San Luca restaurant there (great pizza). Then, the vouchers they provide for after the trenino are a great afternoon snack.

Hello, the castle and the gardens are magnificent. The queue of around 2 hours under the sun is human, to the point that when we arrive inside we are stressed, tired and we appreciate it moderately. Moreover, a little disappointment when visiting the rooms which look more like a museum in a row than 1 castle as we dream of it.

On time in the meeting point, we even skip the line to get in the train. I'll reserve again for the next time we come around Bologna.

Fun and well organized experience! We spent 2/3 hours researching and discovering the city.

Very interesting and educational. We had fun and learnt about city’s history.