Piazza Majdore is the central square of Bologna, which was formed in the XIII century. Initially, the city market was located here. The place was fully equipped by the XVI century. Around the square are the Palazzo Podesta, Palazzo Commune, Basilica of St. Petronius (San Petronio) and other historical buildings. Piazza Neptune borders the Maggiore to the northwest. It owes its name to the fountain of the same name with a bronze statue of god, which was created in 1567.

A curious story is connected with the fountain and the sculpture of Neptune. The statue was created by a Flemish master nicknamed Giambologna in 1567. The Catholic clergy did not like the work, as they felt that nudity would embarrass residents. The churchmen offered the sculptor to put pants on Neptune. As a result, it was decided to ask the citizens themselves and hold a referendum on the need to "cover up the shame." But the people of Bologna decided to leave everything as it is, and now the masterpiece adorns the square.

The University of Bologna is the oldest and one of the most respected in Europe. The first faculties were formed here already in the XI century. Among the outstanding graduates of the educational institution are Dante, Petrarch and Copernicus. Until the XVI century, the university departments were located in several separate buildings, until Pope Pius IV ordered the construction of the Archimnasium – the University Palace, which still adorns the architecture of Bologna.

The theater is located in one of the former buildings of the University of Bologna. It arose in 1637 after the lifting of the church ban on medical autopsy of bodies. Previously, the theater was used as a showroom for medical students, now performances are sometimes shown here (one way or another related to anatomy). The original building was destroyed in 1944. Only the wooden sculptures that now adorn the restored theater have survived.

Medieval buildings located near the Basilica of St. Petronius. It is believed that they were erected at the beginning of the XII century. The Asinelli tower reaches a height of 97 meters, it has a slope of 1.3 ° to the base. Garizenda is significantly inferior in size, its height is 48 meters. The structures served both as housing and a defensive fortress. In the XX century, a military observation post and a TV tower were located in Asinelli.

The alley stretches from the central city station to the main Piazza Maggiore. Along the street there are city mansions with through arched galleries. An incredible number of shops of various price categories, coffee shops and restaurants of Italian cuisine are concentrated here. The street is perfect for leisurely walks, quality shopping and exploring the city.

The palace complex is located on Piazza Maggiore. It appeared in the XII century due to the unification of individual buildings into a single architectural ensemble. Since 1336, the palazzo has been used as the residence of the city administration. The Giorgio Morandi Museum is also located on the territory of the palace, where paintings of the XX century are exhibited. The interiors of the Palazzo Comunale are decorated with decorative elements and frescoes of the XV — XVI centuries.

The palace building was erected in the XIII century for the needs of the city administration. The name "Re Enzo" came from the famous prisoner of the castle – the ruler of Sardinia, Enzo, who spent more than 20 years in captivity here. There is a legend that his illegitimate son, conceived in the palace, marked the beginning of the family of the rulers of Bologna. Palazzo Re Enzo went through two large-scale reconstructions in the XVIII and XX centuries.

The palace was erected in 1200 for the head of the city administration (podesta). Initially, the interior was made in the Gothic style, but the 15th-century Renaissance-style decoration has reached our days. On the territory of the arched gallery, which occupies the entire first floor, there are retail premises. Palazzo Podesta is crowned with a square crenellated tower. Access inside is only possible during events.

The Bologna Chamber of Commerce and Industry is located on the territory of the palace. The building was erected at the end of the XIV century in the manner of "Italian" Gothic. Until 1811, the representative offices of trade guilds and the court of merchants were located on its territory. The palazzo is built of red brick, decorated with elaborate frescoes and marble trim. During the Second World War, as a result of bombing, the facade was destroyed, which was restored by 1949.

A three-storey residential building of the XIII century, located about 300 meters from Piazza Maggiore. It is a valuable example of civil architecture, which is located at the junction of Romanesque and Gothic styles. From the Isolani house there is a covered passage to the Isolani Palace, built in the XV century. This palazzo already has pronounced features of the Italian Renaissance.

The museum was founded in 1881. Its history began with an exhibition of archaeological finds in 1871, which was opened on the territory of the Archimnasium. Later, the collection was transferred to the Galvani Palace, which was specially restored for this purpose. The museum exposition is divided into eight sections, in which various historical periods are presented. Many of the exhibits were borrowed from the collection of the University of Bologna.

The Museum of the University of Bologna, which combines several collections. The exposition is located on the territory of a Renaissance-style palace complex. Since 1711, the Palazzo Poggi housed a Scientific Institute with an astronomical observatory. In museums, you can admire the collections of ancient geographical maps, picturesque frescoes, a unique collection of the naturalist scientist U. Aldrovandi and much more.

The collection is located on the territory of the 15th-century Gizilardi Palace. The exposition is based on the private collection of General L. F. Mars or, aristocrat F. Cospi and the painter P. Palaji. The museum contains various exhibits, according to which you can get an idea of how medieval Bologna lived. There are statues, stained glass windows, bas-reliefs, church vestments, tombstones and other interesting artifacts.

The exposition was opened in 2012. It is located in the Pepoli Palace. Now the museum is at the stage of active formation of funds. Interactive installations are available for visitors, with the help of which models of medieval streets and buildings are created. Some of the exhibits are presented in a very interesting perspective with the help of modern technologies. The museum collection is located in 34 halls.

The City Art Museum, housed in a building formerly owned by the Jesuit Order. The pinacoteca collection mainly consists of works by Italian artists of the XIII-XVIII centuries. It is believed that the gallery was founded in the XVIII century thanks to Cardinal Prospero Lambertini, who later assumed the post of Pope and became known as Benedict XIV. In 1796, the exhibits were confiscated from the churchmen and transferred to the municipal museum.

The theater building began to be erected according to the project of A. Galli in the XVIII century, construction work continued until the 1930s, despite the fact that the stage was inaugurated in 1651. In 1981, the reconstruction was carried out. Operas by Rossini, Bellini, Wagner and Verdi were staged on the stage of the Comunale Theater. Nowadays, the repertoire consists of the same classical works beloved by the public.

Since 2001, the book collection has been located in the Palazzo d'Accursio, which is located on the main Piazza Maggiore. The halls of the library are well equipped and technically equipped. Special attention is drawn to the children's room, where you can borrow books written in various languages. The courtyard of the Village of Borsy is surrounded by a number of arched galleries and covered with a picturesque glass dome.

The place is popular not only among tourists, but also among the residents of Bologna, as here you can eat delicious delicacies inexpensively and drink a couple of glasses of excellent Italian wine. Local cheeses, different varieties of prosciutto, pastries, fish and other products are laid out on small market stalls. Due to the large number of people here, it is often crowded and there are not always enough tables for everyone.

A complex of religious buildings located on the square of the same name. The temples of the complex belong to the period of the Early Middle Ages – from the V to the XII centuries. The structures were built in such a way as to repeat the outlines of the famous and revered Jerusalem temples in the Christian world. The complex was renovated in the XIX-XX centuries, after which it acquired a modern look.

The history of the temple began in the XII century with the construction of a small church. In the XV-XVIII centuries, the building was rebuilt several times, Baroque and Renaissance features were introduced into its architectural appearance. Finally, the construction work was completed only in the XX century. The basilica is a center of pilgrimage, as it houses a Christian shrine – an icon of the Virgin Mary with Jesus. It is believed that it was created by the evangelist St. Luke, who lived in the I century.

The ancient Cathedral of Bologna, located on the main Piazza Maggiore. The construction of the temple continued in the period 1390-1663 . It is considered the fifth largest in Europe (height – 45 meters, length – 132 meters, width – 60 meters). The church was erected in honor of St. Petronius, who was bishop of Bologna in the 5th century. He is considered the patron saint of the city. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with valuable works of art created in the XII-XV centuries.

The remains of St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order, rest in the church, so it is the main shrine for representatives of this association. Such masters as Michelangelo, N. Pisano and A. Di Cambio worked on the magnificent marble tomb of St. Dominic. The basilica also houses the organ that W.A. Mozart learned to play during his life in Bologna.

The main cathedral of Bologna, built at the end of the XII century in the Romanesque style and rebuilt in the XIII century in the Gothic manner. The main bell tower and crypt were created in the XVI century by D. Tibaldi. Further alterations under the direction of various architects have already been made in the Baroque style. There is a museum at the temple, where various items of church utensils are displayed.

The necropolis has been functioning since 1801. It was established on the outskirts of Bologna on the territory of a former monastery, which was dissolved in 1796. Within the cemetery there are mass graves of soldiers of the First and Second World Wars. The graves of the famous singer Farinelli, writer R. Bakkelli, singer L. Dalla and other personalities who contributed to the development of Italian culture are also located on the Certosa.