10 Secrets of Bologna to Know Before You Go
While Bologna might not pop up on your “Top Cities in Italy” radar, it is certainly worth a visit. Not only is Bologna a beautiful, off-the-beaten tourist path Italian city, it’s also a city full of unique quirks and secrets. To help you get excited about your time in Bologna, Italy, here are ten secrets of Bologna to know before you go.
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1. Building San Petronio Basilica
The San Petronio Basilica, or Bologna Duomo, located in the center of the city has a beautiful lower exterior and a very plain upper exterior. The story goes that it was going to be larger than the Vatican, and so the Vatican ordered houses be built around the current portion to limit the expansion efforts. This led the architect to abandon it. If you look at the right hand side you can see half a window where the building stops.
2. The Echo Effect in Piazza Maggiore
There’s an area off of the main square, Piazza Maggiore, where you can talk into the corner of the building, and it amplifies the sound so others can hear it in the opposite corner. This was used for people with diseases, like leprosy, as people did not want to get too close to them to speak with them.
About Piazza Maggiore
Piazza Maggiore is the heart of Bologna. It was first built back in the 13th century and is one of the biggest and oldest squares in Italy. Over the years it has been the sight of capital executions, enunciations of new laws, and home to open air markets.
How to Find this Echo Chamber
If you turn your back on San Petronio, you need to head into the archway in the middle of Palazzo Podesta. At the arch, go to the right corner. The “listener” will need to go to the corner diagnol from you. Then talk into the wall, and the “listener” should be able to hear you loud and clear.
Pro Tip: You can get a great view of Piazza Maggiore by walking through the courtyard of Palazzo D’Accursio and up the stairs to the second floor. Here you’ll find Sala Farnese which offers great views of the square.
Bonus: It’s free to visit the Palazzo D’Accursio!
3. The Fountain of Neptune’s Secret
In Piazza del Nettuno, you’ll find the famous Fountain of Neptune. This statue has an interesting perspective changing trick. Rumor has it the artist, Giambologna, had to minimize Neptune’s private parts to make it appropriate for the public square. But, if you stand behind the statue, his outstretched finger appears to solve this problem. It is the most “giggle-worthy” secret of Bologna.
About the Fountain of Neptune
This bronze statue was built as a collaboration between Flemish sculptor Jean de Boulogne, also known as Giambologna, and architect Tommaso Laureti back in the 1560s. It was part of many new additions to the city after it was taken over as a Papal State in 1508. This fountain, also known as Il Gigante, is about 4 meters tall and weighs over 2,200 kg.
How to Spot this Illusion
To take in this illusion, stand at the bottom of the Sala Borsa staircase with your back to Via Indipendenza, just behind the right side of Neptune’s butt cheek.
Fun Fact: As Maserati, the famous sports car company, was founded in Bologna back in 1914, their logo is based on the trident of Neptune.
4. A Questionable Painting in San Petronio Basilica
Located inside the San Petronio Basilica on Piazza Maggiore is a painting of the Prophet Mohammad in Hell. When it was first painted by Giovanni da Modena, it endangered the whole Basilica as it is considered insulting to Islam. Even today, there are often armed guards stationed outside.
How to Visit the Artwork inside Basilica di San Petronio
It’s easy to visit this unique piece of art. Located inside of the San Petronio Basilica, you’ll need to head to the chapel on the left hand side, Cappella Bolognini. You may need to pay a small fee to see it up close, but here you’ll find this artwork. It features a naked Prophet Mohammed sprawled on a rock with his hands tied behind his back and a demon clinging to his head.
5 & 6. The Famous Towers of Bologna
The two main towers in Bologna, the Asinelli Tower and Garisenda Tower are together known as le Due Torri. Here you’ll find two more “secrets” of Bologna. One is the broken vase at the top of Asinelli Tower, and the other is an optical illusion that the towers are falling.
About the Asinelli and Garisenda Towers
Located in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, the towers stand in the heart of the city. The shorter Garisenda Tower is 48 meters tall and features an obvious lean while the Asinelli Tower is 97.2 meters tall and also leans, but only at a 1.3 degree tilt.
It’s rumored that these two towers were built in a battle of showing which family had more money and power. The taller the tower, the more money and influence. Oddly enough, the tower that is now broken off and leaning, the Garisenda Tower, won.
Climb the Asinelli Tower to See the Broken Vase
While in Bologna, you should plan to climb the tallest tower within the city, the Asinelli Tower. It will take 498 steps up a steep wooden staircase. Here you’ll find the broken vase, a symbol of the Bolognese ability to settle conflicts. However, as a broken vase is not much of a sight, your climb will also be rewarded with stunning views across Bologna.
Bologna Legend: If you have not yet finished your studies, and you climb the Asinelli Tower, it is said that you will no longer graduate. If you’re superstitious, it might be best to hold on this adventure if you’re still a student!
In order to make the climb up Asinelli Tower, you will need to make advance reservations. You can do so online at the Le Due Torri website, or in person at the Bologna Tourist Office on Piazza Maggiore. When you purchase your ticket, you’ll need to select a time slot with a specific day and time. Each time slot is 45 minutes and tickets are only 5 euros.
How to See the Optical Illusion of the Towers
If you stand at a certain angle, it looks as though the towers are falling on you. To see this illusion, you’ll need to stand on the side that the broken off tower, the Garisenda Tower, is leaning toward. Then, when the clouds rush past, it provides the perspective that the building is falling on you.
7. The Underground Bologna River
One of my favorite Bologna secrets…There is a river that runs under the city! It can only be seen above ground in one short area between buildings, at the Window of Via Piella. Many other places in the city it can be heard but not seen. ย
This river used to be important for the city to help move merchandise around, but overtime, the canals were stopped and replaced with roads. This is perhaps the most beautiful secret of Bologna – some even refer to it as Little Venice.
How to Find the River in Bologna
Located in the University zone of Bologna, the best place to view the river, or canals, is at the Window of Via Piella. Follow Via Oberdan, left onto Via delle Ocche, and right onto Via Piella. Here you’ll find the window that views the hidden river and canals of Bologna.
Make the most of your time in Bologna by doing an Italian food tour and wine tasting!
8. The Three Arrows in the Ceiling
Another Bolognese legend has to do with three arrows lodged into the wooden rafters of a ceiling. The legend varies, but the basics remain the same. 3 men were sent to assassin a local, but they were distracted by a naked woman in a window and missed their target.
That is how the arrows ended up in the ceiling. In some versions of the story, it was a rich Lord whose wife cheated on him and he wanted her killed, while in other instances the assassins were hired to kill a nobleman.
How to Locate the Arrows
The arrows can be difficult to find, so you’ll have to look carefully. First head down Strada Maggiore towards Corte degli Isolani. Just outside of Corte degli Isolani, you’ll need to carefully examine the wooden rafters overhead.
9. Bologna’s Cannabis History
There’s a famous inscription in Bologna “panis vita, canabis protectio, vinum laetitia”. It translates to “bread is life, cannabis is protection, wine is joy”. It is a nod at the city’s history when Cannabis was an important crop that helped build wealth within Bologna. At that time it was mainly used in textiles and rope-making. Note that cannabis use is still illegal in Italy!
How to See this Inscription
Located on Via Indipendenzia at the corner of Via Rizzoli, this inscription can be seen in the mosaics on the pavement before bar Canton de’ Fiori and painted on the vaults of the portico beneath the Torre Scappi.
10. Panum Resis at the University
This secret of Bologna lives on in secrecy as it is not easily located. The Latin phrase “panum resis” is said to be inscribed into a historic table or desk somewhere at the University or on Via Zamboni. The meaning of this inscription is said to be that “knowledge is the basis of every decision”.
Best of luck in finding it as no one seems to be able to pinpoint its exact location!
Plan Your Trip to Italy
There you have it, 10 secrets of Bologna, Italy to seek out when you visit. And if that’s not enough, there are also 45 km of porticos to walk under! Do you know of any other secrets or urban legends about Bologna? Please share them in the comments!
If you’re spending some quality time visiting Italy, check out some of the best day trips from Bologna and other top cities in Italy.
- Head to Motor Valley on a day trip to visit the Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Pagani Factories and Museums
- Explore the canals of Venice
- Be charmed by the small towns of Cinque Terra
- Fall in love with Italy in Florence
- Get to know the locals in Siena
- Visit Romeo and Juliet in Verona
Or, from Bologna, you can easily do a day trip to the Republic of San Marino.
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