Bologna
food, glorious food
Portico's, Parma and Lambrusco
Bologna is the place for food lovers. The centre of an area for famous staples such as Mortedella, Parma Ham and Parmesan Cheese, Tortellini and of course Lasagne and Bolognese sauce.
But don't think it is just about food as there is so much more to explore and you have to build in time to stop and watch life go by in Piazzo Maggiore.
A vibrant city perfectly positioned for a weekend break. We flew direct from Luton airport, but it is just as accessible by train if you are holidaying in Florence, Venice or Rome.
Of course sunshine makes a holiday but in Bologna if the sun doesn't happen to shine you have the shelter of the portico's that run throughout the city.
Eating and drinking
Teeming with Trattoria's and Osteria's you will not be disappointed with the choice of eateries in Bologna. Here are just some of my highlights
Platters
Plates
As our plane arrived early we had time for a quick scooby for lunch - we didn't want too much though as we were planning on a leisurely three courses and wine for the evening.
We are partial to a meat and cheese platter and after wandering the narrow streets behind the piazza filled with food shops that doubled up as bars and restaurants (or were they bars and restaurants that doubled up food shops?) we settled on Bottega Ranocchi 1972 . We had seen couples perched on the high tables with delicious looking meat and cheese platters and
You can't visit bologna without trying the pasta - tortellini in broth or creamy sauces, and of course pasta with ragu sauce.
If you think you have had Italian pasta - think again - this is on another level.
A prime example of when eating your the Italian way pays dividends as you get to sample each dish by sharing.
Needless to say each meal was comfortably downed with a local wine, but it was not very often that we made it to dessert.
Things to do
If you can tear yourself away from the food here are just a few things to do to work off those calories
Visit Santuario di Madonna di San Luca
Perched above the city is this beautiful sanctuary. its dome shining like a beacon as the sunlight hits it. Its a must to visit.
You can either walk under the cover of the portico's that start in Piazza Maggiore and travel all the way with you to the top. Some 3.6kms and 666 arches - or you can take the 'San Luca Express' for 12 euros return from the Piazza.
There is plenty of walking to do when you reach the sanctuary so don't feel too guilty about not getting the steps in.
Once you reach the Sanctuary you can also pay an extra 5 euro's to climb to the top of the tower. It is worth the cost for the spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.
This is a busy destination visited by tourists and locals so if you are using the train during the weekend or holidays it can get busy. There is however a bar and restaurant over the road from the bus stop if you find yourself stranded for half hour.
Osteria del Sole - eat, drink and be merry
One of the best experiences is the traditional bar opposite Bottega Ranocchi. Easy to miss if you dont know what you are looking for but you will generally see a crowd outside.
This is a super popular bar and most of the tables may be reserved but if you can squeeze you you will get to experience the local ambience in abundance.
The beer and wine is super cheap - and you can take in your own food. At most of the tables you will see large groups of friends and families who have bought their own picnic.
A truely wonderful place to spend an afternoon or evening.
©Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.