2 Days in Bologna
Feb 13th, 2016, 09:00 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2 Days in Bologna
I'm finally finishing up my "travelogue" on our trip to Italy Fall 2015. We only spent two days in Bologna as an interlude between Florence and Venice. I wasn't expecting much but we LOVED it! I would absolutely return if I had the opportunity and I'm so glad we included it in our itinerary. (This is where using a travel agent helps - I wouldn't have thought to include it if our TA hadn't suggested it.)
One notable thing about Bologna is that it feels like a "real" city. Locals going to work, shopping, living their lives. All seemingly happy while doing so. Maybe because of the GREAT FOOD! We didn't have a bad meal in all of Italy but Bologna was truly outstanding. I've posted reviews and pix here of recommended restaurants: https://polloplayer.wordpress.com/20...es-in-bologna/
We had rain during our stay but so many of the old city streets are covered that you can walk around regardless of the weather. Charming in an authentic way.
We stayed at the Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni where we were upgraded to a lovely junior suite, I think because of our travel agent's Virtuoso affiliation. I would absolutely stay there again if/when we return.
I wish we had had a little more time there to delve into the history of the city. Next time...
One notable thing about Bologna is that it feels like a "real" city. Locals going to work, shopping, living their lives. All seemingly happy while doing so. Maybe because of the GREAT FOOD! We didn't have a bad meal in all of Italy but Bologna was truly outstanding. I've posted reviews and pix here of recommended restaurants: https://polloplayer.wordpress.com/20...es-in-bologna/
We had rain during our stay but so many of the old city streets are covered that you can walk around regardless of the weather. Charming in an authentic way.
We stayed at the Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni where we were upgraded to a lovely junior suite, I think because of our travel agent's Virtuoso affiliation. I would absolutely stay there again if/when we return.
I wish we had had a little more time there to delve into the history of the city. Next time...
Feb 14th, 2016, 06:45 AM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe it might be difficult to have a bad meal in Bologna. My wife and I recently visited in Sept. 15 and Jan. 16. The second time was to eat, drop a car and pick up a train to Milano.
Two additional restaurants I would highly recommend:
Da Nello (recommend reservation, we ate early.)
Trattoria Serghei ( ate there 3 nights in a row, small neighborhood trattoria, 9/10 tables, mom, 86 makes pasta) Reservation a must.
Spent 40 years in food and beverage biz. Sorry I waited so long to visit. Bologna is delightful and enjoyed it more on my second visit.
Two additional restaurants I would highly recommend:
Da Nello (recommend reservation, we ate early.)
Trattoria Serghei ( ate there 3 nights in a row, small neighborhood trattoria, 9/10 tables, mom, 86 makes pasta) Reservation a must.
Spent 40 years in food and beverage biz. Sorry I waited so long to visit. Bologna is delightful and enjoyed it more on my second visit.
Feb 14th, 2016, 07:50 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm delighted to find some new fans of Bologna. For years, I've considered the city one of the undiscovered gems of Italy. We never felt more like we were really in Italy than when we spent a sunny afternoon sitting in Piazza Maggiore!
Feb 15th, 2016, 10:20 AM
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We had two days in Bologna between Venice and Florence as well. Great food-and so much walking that we burned off all the calories! Getting about is perfect in any weather due to all the covered walkways. Highly recommend walking the porticos to Santuario di San Luca.
Feb 15th, 2016, 10:31 AM
#10
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am so glad you enjoyed Bologna. We visited there last year and fell in love with it. Your pictures are amazing. I hope to return someday and will have to try out those wonderful looking restaurants!
Feb 20th, 2016, 06:53 AM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@sundriedtopepo We didn't visit Lucca so I can't speak to that destination. We did a day trip to Siena. I think Lucca and Siena are both much closer to Florence than is Bologna. Not sure I would bother to go there for just a day trip unless you are willing to get on a train just to have an amazing lunch and then head back.
@KTtravel I hope we ALL get to return someday!
@KTtravel I hope we ALL get to return someday!
Feb 20th, 2016, 11:35 AM
#13
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@katydidnt I think the fast train can get to Bologna in 35 minutes which, if we get going early enough, would give us a decent day there. A few days would be preferable though, but we won't have that much time this trip.
My husband is a really big foodie so he would go for lunch...
My husband is a really big foodie so he would go for lunch...
Mar 5th, 2016, 10:49 AM
#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello all you Bologna lovers, I was just about to start a new Bologna topic when I saw your recent reports and thought I'd tag along. My husband and son are planning to spend four days in Bologna in April. This is a special gift from me: a father/son outing. Both men are foodies so any suggestions for restaurants or places to visit are more than welcome. Grazie mille!
Mar 5th, 2016, 11:03 AM
#16
katydidnt, your photos had me drooling.
I almost got DH to Bologna once [it would be an easy trip as you can fly there direct from Bristol airport on Ryanair] but something else cropped up.
Sicily is next on the list [September] but after that I can see I must try harder.
I almost got DH to Bologna once [it would be an easy trip as you can fly there direct from Bristol airport on Ryanair] but something else cropped up.
Sicily is next on the list [September] but after that I can see I must try harder.
Jul 9th, 2016, 10:24 AM
#18
you've done better than me with the Leopard, katy. I managed the first 10 pages or so then gave up. Still that was further than i got with the italian - that dalmatian or whatever it is on the first page completely defeated me util I looked up what it was in the english version.
luckily we're not going to Palermo so I think I'll probably cope without having read it!
I've read some worrying things about safety too but we are not, as it turns out, going to be going to Catania to Palermo, and we will take more than the normal precautions with our belongings. A money belt is certainly going to be high on my packing list for Sicily.
luckily we're not going to Palermo so I think I'll probably cope without having read it!
I've read some worrying things about safety too but we are not, as it turns out, going to be going to Catania to Palermo, and we will take more than the normal precautions with our belongings. A money belt is certainly going to be high on my packing list for Sicily.
