Great report-we went to Bologna last June, and too fell head over heels for the city. Food was amazing, and we too enjoyed MaMBO very much. One evening they were showing a film in the Piazza Maggiore-Rebel Without A Cause, and it was so fun! Glad you had a great time.

TJinSOMA-we also did the Italian Days Food Experience-was the HIGHLIGHT of our 3 weeks in Italy. Highly recommend. I learned a ton, experienced a ton, ate a ton, and enjoyed every second. The takeaway for us is just how uniquely passionate these producers are about their products. The lunch at the organic winery was some of the best food we ate on our trip.

I'm glad some of you are finding this helpful and that it's bringing back happy memories for others. I have a post on my blog with some pictures. www.countryweekend.blogspot.com

Great report, keep it coming :)

We also enjoyed our stay at the Art Hotel Novecento. The location was perfect. Your report is a keeper for future trips back to this delightful city.

Does anyone have a link for the Italian Days Food Experience tour? I'm having trouble finding it.

I think this must be it :http://www.italiandays.it/index.asp

I avoided Bologna for years and went there two years ago for a few days since we were leaving from there. That was it. I LOVE Bologna. I lived there for a few months last summer/fall, and your post brought back so many nice memories. I'm going back this spring for two months...live in the Santo Stephano area.

Bookmarking

Doing some prelim trip planning for our trip next December and came across this wonderful report. We're planning to spend approximately 1 week in Montepulciano which we visit at least annually. Then we will have another 7-8 days before we head back to the States so that the kids are relatively back on track time-wise before school starts.

Bologna is what we are looking like for that second week that would span from around 12/26 - 1/1 or 1/2.

We love museums and it looks to have several good ones, including the archaeology/history museum with an excellent Etruscan collection.

It seems to be an easy trip to several other spots we'd like to daytrip to. Ravenna, Ferrara, and perhaps even Verona.

And being a university town, it seems like it will be lively with a wonderful food/shopping scene.

Thanks for the detailed recommendations!!
Now... time for me to start looking to find an apartment for 4...

Great report-will be using your recommendations next month when we visit there!