Car Hire Tuscany: Bologna
Car Hire
Quote
Ideally located for drivers at the confluence
of Italy’s most major roads, Bologna is one of the liveliest and
most modern cities in Europe. Its skyline makes a contemporary
picture of classic Italian architecture, with miles of red roofs
lending this Roman Manhattan its popular nickname, “La
Rossa”.
Bologna the Red is the place to head for food, wine, music and culture. Imagine a modern city, with its shopping precincts, concert halls and parks, but where everything is old: in Bologna, you can go shopping in a 13th century square, dine in the shadow of a medieval palace and walk acres of the town’s famous arcades – genteel covered walkways protecting the shopper from sun, rain and snow alike.
Take yourself through the west of the centre and visit the Bohemian hangouts of the Via del Pratello, whose trattoria will get your mouth watering for some good hearty Italian cuisine. Or pop to the Via Cartoleria to rub shoulders with anybody who’s anybody at the Drogherie della Rosa, a former apothecary’s turned restaurant whose welcoming tables have played host to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Noam Chomsky.
When you’ve had your fill of the cuisine you can head on to jazz clubs, bustling wine bars, cutting-edge nightclubs and soulful late-night cafes. Or simply wander through the city’s impressive squares, taking in the sights you saw during the day: the Piazza Maggiore, its three Palazzos and stunning Basilica made bright from the light of the arcades, is a sight you cannot miss.
It’s well worth taking a daytime tour of Bologna’s towers: there are 21 remaining from over 200 that once sprang from medieval fortifications all over the city. A crazily-leaning pair near Bologna’s old ring wall are the symbol of the town – known as the “Two Towers”, they look like a huge pair of scissors swaying over the buildings.
Bologna is easily located for day or weekend trips to places like Modena, Parma and Ravenna. All are accessible by main E roads: head northeast on the E45 and you’ll hit Modena, passing through Maranello, the spiritual home of Ferrari, where you can visit the extraordinary Galleria Ferrari. Keep going past Modena and you will reach Parma, another great foodie destination: or exit Bologna heading for Italy’s east coast, where you’ll come to the town of Ravenna, the “world capital of mosaic” – home to eye-twisting examples of the artform that have to be seen to be believed!
Bologna the Red is the place to head for food, wine, music and culture. Imagine a modern city, with its shopping precincts, concert halls and parks, but where everything is old: in Bologna, you can go shopping in a 13th century square, dine in the shadow of a medieval palace and walk acres of the town’s famous arcades – genteel covered walkways protecting the shopper from sun, rain and snow alike.
Take yourself through the west of the centre and visit the Bohemian hangouts of the Via del Pratello, whose trattoria will get your mouth watering for some good hearty Italian cuisine. Or pop to the Via Cartoleria to rub shoulders with anybody who’s anybody at the Drogherie della Rosa, a former apothecary’s turned restaurant whose welcoming tables have played host to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Noam Chomsky.
When you’ve had your fill of the cuisine you can head on to jazz clubs, bustling wine bars, cutting-edge nightclubs and soulful late-night cafes. Or simply wander through the city’s impressive squares, taking in the sights you saw during the day: the Piazza Maggiore, its three Palazzos and stunning Basilica made bright from the light of the arcades, is a sight you cannot miss.
It’s well worth taking a daytime tour of Bologna’s towers: there are 21 remaining from over 200 that once sprang from medieval fortifications all over the city. A crazily-leaning pair near Bologna’s old ring wall are the symbol of the town – known as the “Two Towers”, they look like a huge pair of scissors swaying over the buildings.
Bologna is easily located for day or weekend trips to places like Modena, Parma and Ravenna. All are accessible by main E roads: head northeast on the E45 and you’ll hit Modena, passing through Maranello, the spiritual home of Ferrari, where you can visit the extraordinary Galleria Ferrari. Keep going past Modena and you will reach Parma, another great foodie destination: or exit Bologna heading for Italy’s east coast, where you’ll come to the town of Ravenna, the “world capital of mosaic” – home to eye-twisting examples of the artform that have to be seen to be believed!
