I was reading some posts on Bologna and one person mentioned something about a hidden canal.

So I did a search and found photos that looked very interesting. I also found a description sheet from bolognawelcome.it that describes about 10 spots.

When I started to look for them on Google Maps I noticed that most appear to be along Via Riva di Reno. They are midway between the train station and Piazza Maggiore. So not really out of the way.

Has anybody every bothered to see them?

There is a window in a wall (Finestra sul canale) around the corner from the Trattoria dal Biassanot that you can look through to see the canal. If you look on google maps for the restaurant and then zoom in, the location comes up. I have seen it.

mama_mia,
It was your post in another thread that got me interested.

Apparently there are about 10 places more or less in an east-west row.

The one you mentioned is one of those written about on the sheet from the tourist office.

We saw the "window" after eating at the trattoria and did not know it existed (we saw some other folks looking through the opening). So it was an unexpected surprise.

On our last trip to Rome, we peered through the Knights of Malta keyhole, which gives a beautifully framed view of the Vatican. The Knights of Malta is on the Aventine hill, which is a pleasant walk. On the hill you can enjoy views from the Orangerie and the Basilica of Santa Sabina, one of the oldest in Rome. At the bottom of the hill is the Rome Rose Garden, if you are there in season.

http://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/hom...di-via-piella/

Sorry -- I read your first post too quickly and failed to see you already had the info from the bologna welcome website.

The area of the Riva di Reno is very busy with motor traffic, so I've never gone strolling around there. The "window" on via Piella is near some popular restaurants, so I have seen it. It is charming, and thought provoking about Bologna's history, so if you are nearby it's worth taking a peek.

Just passing this along, as I have no other info about this tour

http://www.guiderome.com/tour-guide-...-waterways.htm

Translating it as "canal" suggests navigation, as in Google Translate's version of "channel". It looked more like a "stream" to me, "open sewer" also a possibility. Intriguing, though.

We will be in Bologna in December - not sure the weather will be conducive, but maybe we will get lucky. This sounds fun to find!

It's here:

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Tra...9!4d11.3451273