the Travel Enthusiast
- 23 Mar
Adam in Amazing Places | NO COMMENTSThe Venerable Bologna
Bologna ©Roberto Taddeo/flickr
The heightened towers and arcades of proud families expands to kilometers.
Bologna la Rossa (the red one) gives you thoughts about the tiles of roofs, the colors of the houses, but also about the fact that the city was lead by the left wing policy for 50 years. It is also nicknamed la dotta (the scholar one) by those who are impressed by its education institute, one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1088. Others, dreaming about local cold meats like “la Mortadella” for example pork roasts, truffles, and the most important, the bolognese sauce.
Out of all Northern Italian cities, only Bologna possesses a privileged amazing place for keeping its medieval aspect.The arcades which expands a total length of 35 kilometers were created in the 15th century as a solution for the location. Near the existent structures many other new buildings were established where students and merchants were accommodated. The lower part of the building was used as a covered sidewalks.
The Initial Name was Felsina.
Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna province was erected with the name of Felsina in the 6th century BC. It was established by the Etruscan people and four century later, the settlement has become the Roman colony called Bononia and rapidly earned strategic importance, being situated at the military road of Via Emilia.
After the Romans, Byzantines and later Lombard’s ruled the city, which acquired a considerable autonomy, after the defeat of the ruling dynasty in 1249 at the battle of Fossalta.
In 1506, Bologna was included to the Papal State and in 1860 was inducted in the Unified Italy.
Arcades of Bologna ©Rufo/flickr
Scene for a Dramatic History.
The city center of Bologna is called Piazza Maggiore, filled with fuss even in late night. It is covered by the Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo Podesta, Palazzo de Notai, the museum of Archeology, and a scene of a dramatic history.
The Palazzo di Re Enzo, where king Enzo of Sardinia, the illegitimate sun of emperor Frederick II was held here as a prisoner for 23 years also lies here.
All the structures are covered with history, like for example, the two Twin Towers like some minarets. These are raised from big roofs. When Dante lived in Bologna, there were about a hundred of towers as symbols of rank and wealth of the owner. Nowadays, the Asinelli Tower can be admired with its stunning panoramic view of the city from the top of it.
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travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)What are impressive at Piazza Maggiore are the buildings symmetry of the buildings, also visible from Strada Maggiore, guarded by well proportionated palaces. Among its well known churches only few counts as the most famous which is also the spirtual patron saint of the city – San Petronio, San Domenico and San Stefano, inspired by its local saints.
Piazza Maggiore ©g.sighele
Byzantine Madonna.
An interesting experience of the city is the way to the Church of Madonna di San Luca, a covered road with arcades which is 3,5 kilometers, being the longest in the world of this type of road. At the end, in the church, can be admired the byzantine icon of Madonna, Every year, because of ascension of Madonna, she is brought to the city under the arcades.
It is now wonder that because of its many wonders, Bologna is the paradise for artists. Dante, Boccacio, Petrarca, Erasmus from Rotterdam and recently Umberto Eco, lived and respectively, lives here.
Directors like Pasolini, Fellini, Antonioni and Bertolucci are born from this city or nearby. Rossini chose Bologna for to live, a place where people have passion for music.
The fuss of the old city meets under the arcades, magazines offering tastes and specialties. At night, somewhere around Via del Pratello can be served “slow food” which is the counter-weight of “fast food” everything filled at a single dish called Bologna la grassa.
If you want a cheap vacation to Italy, we recommend you the venerable Bologna.
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