Bologna - a classic and very cozy Italian town, located near Milan , the birthplace of the famous Bolognese sauce , where you can see many interesting things. Here, modern buildings alternate with old buildings, which surprisingly harmoniously fits into the general architectural ensemble of the city. So, what's worth seeing in Bologna?
Basilica of Saint Petronius
This huge church was built in 1479 on the territory of eight small churches. It is the sixth largest church in the world, than the inhabitants of Bologna are very proud of. The basilica is made in the form of a Catholic cross, it has three naves and chapels. The decoration of the church, both external and internal, is made in the Gothic style.
An interesting feature of the basilica is the meridian drawn on its floor, which proves the fact of the Earth's rotation around the Sun. Also in the cathedral there are two organs - the most ancient in all of Italy.
University of Bologna
This is an active educational institution, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe. Once upon a time, Francesco Petrarca and Albrecht Durer, Dante Alighieri and Paracelsus, Pope Nicholas V and other famous personalities and artists were given their knowledge here. The University was founded in 1088 and soon became the center of European science, known as Studium. Bologna University gathered under its arches the intellectual elite of that time. Today, more than 90,000 students are enrolled here who come to Bologna from different parts of Italy and from other countries.
The Neptune Fountain
In Piazza Nepttuno there is an unusual structure. In order to look at the fountain of Neptune, many tourists come to Bologna. This fountain was built by the sculptor Jambologni, commissioned by Cardinal Borromeo.
The main distinguishing feature of this attraction of Bologna is an unusual sculptural group in the center. Cast from the bronze sea king Neptune holds in his hand his traditional trident, and surround his bronze nymphs, so frankly portrayed that this caused a lot of controversy among the citizens of Bologna. Some offered to "dress" mythological characters in bronze pants, others zealously fought for the demolition of the structure, but the fountain of Neptune safely stands in its place to this day.
There are several signs related to the Neptune fountain. For example, several times to go around it clockwise is a sign "for luck", which has been used by students of the University of Bologna, residents and visitors of the city for many years.
Pinakothek
The largest museum of Bologna is the National Pinakothek - one of the best art galleries in Italy. It contains many valuable exhibits: the works of Raphael and Giotto, Guido Reni and Annibale Carraz, as well as other famous Italian masters who created in the XIII-XIX centuries.
The Pinacoteca includes as many as thirty exhibition halls. There are regular exhibitions of contemporary art, training courses.
Towers and arcades of Bologna
Anyone who visits Bologna remembers its famous numerous towers. They were built in the Middle Ages, and not only as defensive structures. In the XII-XIII centuries among the wealthy families it was considered popular to order the tower erection for its own means. So the towers of Azinelli (the highest in the city), Azzovigi, Garizenda and other towers-symbols of Bologna were built. Up to our time, only 17 towers of 180 have been preserved in Bologna. They contain shopping benches of local artisans selling souvenirs and various handicrafts.
The arcades are long arched buildings that connect the city buildings with each other. They are one of Bologna's most beautiful attractions along with the towers. In the late Middle Ages, when the city experienced its heyday, becoming a popular intellectual and commercial center of Italy, the administration of Bologna decided to build such arches near each large building. Then they were wooden, and later from replaced with stone, except for a single wooden portico in the street of Maggiore. As a result, the arcade connected almost the whole city: they can be walked freely, hiding from the wind or rain.
