Hi.

I'll be in Bologna for a week in early July. Any hotel or restaurant recommendations are greatly appreciated. Also, anything nearby that merits a quick (daytrip) visit?

Thanks.

If you have time, take a drive to nearby Ferrara. A charming medieval town about 20-30 miles (or closer)from Bologna. There is a castle with a moat right in the center of the city. I can recommend a wonderful restaurant there--Il Bagattino on Via Corregiari 6.
You'll love Bologna, one of Italy's underrated coties.

That last word should be "cities," of course.

Check out the Hotel Roma. Right in the middle of things. Stayed there for a week last year. IMHO Ristorante Rodrigo and Risorante Diana are vastly over rated. There are much better. Two interesting things to do if these are your interests: (1) Classical Music esp. Opera - run do not walk to Bongiovanni Dischi on via Ugo Bassi. (2) The Museo Del Patrimonio Industriale, via della Beverara 123, is housed in an old foundry. It is not in the center of town and may be hard to get to but it is worth it. When we visited it was free but that is not the main attraction. It is effectively a history of Bologna via the its industry. Highly recommended. Good luck. Bologna is great!! Few tourists but many young non-Italians i.e. students.

Don't miss the anatomical theater in the university (the oldest in the Western world) - it's just off the Piazza Maggiore. The university itself is very interesting (the walls and ceilings are covered with the crests of the students who attended from the 1300s), and the anatomy theater is fascinating.

I would recommend you take one of the walking tours that's offered several days a week. They'll take you to the highlights (including the anatomical theater) and give a brief history of Bologna.

If you like mosaics at all, take a day trip to Ravenna (very easy by train). The city is famous for its mosaics - there are numerous churches whose walls and ceilings are covered with them.

We stayed at Hotel Orologio right off the main square, very convenient, great breakfast and very modern bathrooms. Found it in Karen Brown. Would recommend it highly.

I highly recommend da cesari for great bolognese food with excellent service in a pleasant atmoshere.

the owner also has his own vinyard and some of the wines are quite good. try to reserve in the upstairs dining room.

Good morning, as Paul P suggests checkout the HOTEL ROMA, stayed there
and was very satisified with the staff,
accomodatioins, etc. At a later visit to Bologna, the Roma ws full and had to
stay at the AL CAPPELLO RUSSO, which is
right behind out the Roma;s back door.
was ok, but looked prefabricated.
Ristorantes.. Trattoria Da Adolfo,$$$
Corte Galluzzi,7 out the front door,
and left about a half block.
(this is a ma-pa ristorante,few tables,
make reservations but excellant food.
La Mela,$$$via De Fusari, 5, out the
back door of the Roma, left about 1/4
block, pizza and fish dishes....
Richad of LaGrange Park, Il.
p[s check out www.tamburini.com and
the shopping area around their shop...

In addition to the excellent recommendations of places to see, add the Museo Civico to the list. It has an excellent collection of Etruscan ruins.

Hi,

If you are in the vicinity, stop by Tamburini delicatessen at Via Caprarie 1. I'm told that it is amazing.

Thank you everyone - this is great!

Be sure to find Gilberto, its a great store for food finds from all over Italy. A wide variety of olive oils,
Balsamics, candies, salsa, all kinds of good things for bringing home. Its in the same are as Tamburini (which now serves lunch and is outstanding). Across the way from a great Bakery, make sure you allow enough time to explore this area. Get a copy of Fred Plotkin's book, Eating in Italy, he's quite fond of Bologna and devotes a few
pages to it. Enjoy, we've been twice and look forward to returning soon.
Newt

I was looking for a thread just like this.

"Topping" for myself.