Lexma90 |
Aug 3rd, 2009 08:00 AM |
I can't help you on a tour guide for Bologna - we just read to ourselves from our trusty and thorough Cadogan guide to Bologna and Emilia-Romagna. I think Bologna is a great city to visit! Of sights to see, my favorites are Basilica di Sant Stefano; my notes say "atmospheric medieval religious complex;" its a series of old churches, one built on top of the other. I also liked viewing the oratorio of Saint Cecilia; the person at the oratorio was very proud to explain the oratorio to us. The Pinocateca Nazionale in Bologna has a nice Raphael, The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia. When we were there (in 2007), however, that section of the museum (the Renaissance part) was only open in the afternoon, so you might want to check on that. While it's a nice museum, if you want to go to an art museum on Sunday, I would suggest that you head to Milan earlier and visit the Pinocateca di Brera and/or the Pinocateca Ambrosiana in Milan.
I would DEFINITELY say if you have time to visit only one city, as enchanting as Ferrara is, Ravenna has mosaics that are unparalleled. They are magnificant and gorgeous, and date from the earliest periods of Christian art. The mosaics in the churches and other buildings in Ravenna are in some places so close that you could touch them (but don't do that), and fascinating to see the strong Roman influence in terms of design and how the people are depicted. I would highly recommend Ravenna.
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