I think this question may have gotten lost at the end of another posting of mine so I am reposting here. I have found two apartments that look nice and are both available for our dates this fall. They are roughly the same size and the same price. Can you please help me decide which location is better? One is on via Fransinago and the other via delle Tovaglie.

We are looking for something close to the Bologna sites, near some restaurants and shops and, of course, in a safe, pleasant neighborhood. I suppose we can take a bus or taxi to the train station when we go our day trips (but close to a bus route would be handy). We are also traveling with a small child if that is relevant.

The second location has the advantage of being near a park - Giardini Regina Margherita - which might be good for our toddler. Any comments on the park? is there a playground etc? I like the looks of the first apartment better but both look nice.

Also, both are listed on Perfect Places and Holiday Rental (UK site) with some reviews but I haven't used these sites before. No reviews on Slow Travel and when I asked for references one of the owners told me that in Italy because of privacy regulations, they are not allowed to provide email addresses for references. Does that sound right?

Thank you in advance. I am finding surprisingly little information on Bologna so I am very grateful for the information I have found on the Forum!

We stayed at the Hotel Paradise in Bologna and they have apartments too. We took a look at a one bedroom and it was quite nice. The area is within walking distance to most everything - it is midway between the train station and the Piazza Maggiore - about a ten minute walk to each.

Thanks Basingstoke. The hotel looks nice and I'll ask them about the apartment. Did you like that neighborhood? Any thoughts on the areas to the south or west of Piazza Maggiore?

We liked the area a lot, it was very convenient and there is a wonderful restaurant around the corner. Bologna is a very walkable city, made more so by the extensive porticos that keep you out of the rain and sun. I have a detailed trip report with photos that you can read by clicking on my name.

As far as the areas south or west of the Piazza, If I have my bearings correct, the area directly south or south-east has a large outdoor market area and many small restaurants and shops. The area to the west had some interesting sites and had some upscale shops. There were also upscale shops to the east as well. Actually, we enjoyed everything near the Piazza. The avenue bordering on the north was a very busy one. The Paradise is about a ten minute walk north on a small street parallel to Via Dell'independenza, an avenue filled with shops both large and small. Continue on that avenue and you reach the area of the train station.

Sally, I think that your second choice, the apartment on via delle Tovaglie, would be better located. You would be about a 10 minute walk south of the Piazza Maggiore, which really is the centre of historic Bologna. I think where your apartment is located is fairly residential, not too exciting, but some good restaurants and shopping not too far away. Also a really lovely church, San Domenico, which has 3 very impressive sculptures by Michelangelo! Worth checking out.

Your apartment is on the "wrong" side of the city centre to easily reach the train station, but you can grab cabs. I've walked back and forth between Piazza Maggiore and the train station and that takes a good 20-25 minutes. You're a ways from there.

But you are relatively close to the city walls and just on the other side (walking up hill) is the Giardini Regina Margherita which is huge and welcome green space (you don't see a lot of that in central Bologna!)

I think the first apartment location is further out from the centre of things and I don't think the neighborhood is any better.

Enjoy Bologna! There is some great shopping, wonderful markets, interesting art and architecture and good restaurants all around the centre.

I'm bookmarking for my reference for a possible fall 2010 trip to Bologna.

Basingstoke - thanks for the tip about your trip report. I went back to look at it and remembered reading it at the time you wrote but I'm happy to reread with renewed attention!

Sacc - unfortunately the via delle Tovaglie apartment is now taken so we are going to go with the other one. Hopefully it will work out. It looks fairly central as well. I was just worried that it was in a bad neighborhood (dangerous, dirty) but it seems to be fine from what I can find.

Google satellite is very handy for this kind of thing by the way.