Bologna is a city to be discovered slowly.
We, at Boutique Hotel Il Guercino, will guide you through its most fascinating spots.
Dear Guest, welcome to Bologna! In order to let you discover our beautiful city, here is a short guide for a sightseeing tour: remember that Bologna deserves at least two or three days to be fully appreciated.
For more detailed information, please contact the information office in Piazza Maggiore.
Find out more also on Bologna Estate and Bologna Welcome.
For more detailed information, please contact the information office in Piazza Maggiore.
Find out more also on Bologna Estate and Bologna Welcome.
But let's get started now: get out of the hotel and head to the must-see places in the city.
Take advantage of our little itinerary to stop in some of the most notable parts of Bologna.
Hope you enjoy your stay here!
Take advantage of our little itinerary to stop in some of the most notable parts of Bologna.
Hope you enjoy your stay here!
Yours sincerely, Giancarlo, manager and owner of the hotel for 35 years.
- As you leave the hotel, go left toward the historic center. You will find the Sacred Heart Church and the Testoni Theater with its illuminated tower. Cross the train station bridge and admire the recently inaugurated Holocaust memorial, an ideal location for impressive photos at sunset.
- Past the bridge, you will discover the Porta Galliera (Galliera Gate), the city's ancient main gateway. Below the gate, you can see the water canals still in use.
- On the left is the Pincio Staircase, dating back to the 1300s. Above it, there are gardens that used to be the place of public execution. From a distance, you can admire the view. Under the gardens, every Friday and Saturday, the Piazzola market takes place.
- Continue to Via Indipendenza, the main street of the city. Admire the old buildings with ornate facades.
- After the Garibaldi statue, take Via Augusto Righi and then Via Piella. Here, you will find a magic window that takes you back to the old canals of Bologna. This area was famous for the production of silk and the canals were used to transport goods.
- Go back to Via Indipendenza and you will reach Piazza Maggiore. Admire the Fountain of Neptune, built in 1566. This fountain is legendary: it was said that those who drank from it during the plague would survive!
- Enter Palazzo d'Accursio and visit the largest multimedia library in Europe. Going up to the second floor you'll see the horse staircase that led to the place of the coronation of Charles V.
- Next to the palace is San Petronio, the fifth largest Christian church in the world, commissioned by the people of Bologna. Inside, there is the magnificent sundial and other works of art.
- Explore the Portico del Pavaglione, home to the third most important Egyptian museum in the world, and the Archiginnasio Museum with its frescoed rooms.
- Head on to Piazza Minghetti and admire the marble palace where you will find the headquarters of the Cassa di Risparmio di Bologna and the Pepoli Campogrande Museum, which tells the story of Bologna.
- Head towards the two towers, a symbol of Bologna. Visit the Garisenda and Asinelli towers and discover the historic relics that can be visited.
- Follow Strada Maggiore and reach the ancient Via Emilia. Visit the Music Museum, the church of Santa Lucia, the Davia Bargellini Museum and other attractions along the way.
- Once you arrive at Piazza Santo Stefano, visit the seven churches there and immerse yourself in their history.
- For a break, return to Mercato di Mezzo (Middle Market) and enjoy a snack at Osteria del Sole, in Vicolo dei Ranocchi, where the innkeeper has been serving nothing but wine since the 1400s!