Bologna is known as "The Berkeley of Italy" and "The Fat One" due to its rich cuisine. It has a population of around 380,000 and is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. Bologna has a perfect synergy between modernity and tradition, with sites like Piazza Maggiore that allow visitors to admire ancient buildings and appreciate the city's cultural vibrancy. It is renowned for its university, food, red bricks, and leaning towers.

1. Benvenuti a Bologna of Emilia Romagna
“The Berkeley of Italy”
By Famiglia Bruno: Andrea, Shane, Aiden, and Nick
“The perfect synergy between modernity and
tradition is one of the principal elements of this
city, which conquer its visitors: you could have
a walk in Piazza Maggiore and admire the
ancient buildings of the city, and at the same
time, appreciate the cultural ferment that
animate this open and tolerant city.”
http://www.zanasi.com/house/BolognaMap100Km_3cm.gif

2. Key Facts
• Popolazione/Population: ~380,000 persone
• Area: 54.3 square miles
• Geographical Features: In the Po River Valley
at the foot of the Apennine Mountain Range
• Felsina, originally founded by Etruscans in
510 BC – in mid-4th century fell to the Gauls
who named it Bononia
• Known as La Grassa, La Dotta, La Rossa Città
-Aiden & Shane
http://rometour.org/data/emilia-romagna_bologna_map.jpg

3. Piazze: The Heart of Bologna
• Main piazza è Maggiore,
– built in the 1200s as a place for le persone to gather and hold market
– In 1860, the piazza was dedicated to King Vittorio Emanuele II, padre della
patria (father of the fatherland), a symbol of Italy’s unification
– In 1934, pedestrian platform was built in the center of the piazza
– Mussolini was in power in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II when Italy
joined Germany in 1940 as one of the axis powers. In 1943, Italy was
invaded by Allied forces and surrendered although Mussolini remained head
of state. At this point, Piazza Maggiore was called Piazza della Repubblica as
northern Italy continued to be a battleground between Germany and the
Allies. On 4/21/1945 an American tank damaged the piazza’s pedestrian
platform. One week later Italians of the Resistenza Partigiana killed
Mussolini and Piazza della Repubblica from then forth was called Piazza
Maggiore (major square/plaza). Italians kept the damaged platform as a
reminder of Bologna’s liberation in World War II.
-Andrea
http://mappery.com/maps/Bologna-Italy-City-Map.mediumthumb.jpg

4. Piazze: The Heart of Bologna
• Panoramic View:
http://www.italyguides.it/us/italy/emilia-romagna/bologna/piazza-maggiore/
• Superstitious Italian studenti of the University of Bologna say it’s bad
luck to cross the square through the center and thus travel across it
along the borders. These students say that those who don’t follow this
advice risk to never get a degree from the university.
• Modern Piazza Maggiore is surrounded by palazzo or buildings:
– Palazzo del Podesta on the north
– Palazzo dei Banchi (the bank) on the east
– Palazzo dei Notai on the south as well as the San Petronio Basilica:
• San Petronio is the main church of Bologna (and fifth largest church in the world) dedicated to the patron
saint Petronio.
– Palazzo d’Accursio (or Palazzo Comunale, basically city hall) on the west
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/31551571.jpg
-Andrea

5. More Piazze
• Piazza Santa Stefano
– Group of Sette Chiese (7 churches) built by Saint Petronio to
cover up a pagan temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis
• Piazza Galvani
– by the Archiginnasio once called Il Pavaglione (Bolognese dialect
for pavilion), now a library and home of the famous Anatomical
Theatre but previously a commercial center for the silkworm
trade.
• Piazza del Nettuno
– adjacent to Maggiore, home of the Fontana di (fountain of) and
statue of Neptune in the middle -Andrea
http://nocheckedbags.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Bologna8.png

6. Architecture: The Backbone of
Bologna
• Towers:
– Bologna used to have over 100 towers, now there are less than 20.
– Previously used for military purposes
– Asinelli’s tower built in the early 1100s is highest leaning tower of Italy
(90 meters or 295 feet). 498 wooden stairs lead to the top of Asinelli–
great place to see the red roofs and in good weather, the sea and the
alps.
– Garisenda another great tower to visit leans more than Asinelli but is
incomplete at 48 meters or 157 feet tall because top was removed
– Torre Arengo: built in the 13th century, this tower stands 47 meters tall
and is built into the porticos of Voltone del Palazzo del Podestà.
– Torre Accursi is a clock tower that over looks the Piazza Maggiore.
Originally just a tower but later added the clock after the tower was
modified
-Andrea & Nick
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/10/17/15/2159444/5/628x471.jpg

7. Architecture: The Backbone of Bologna
• Porticos/Arcades: A Portico/Arch is a
structure including a roof with evenly spaced
columns.
- The porticos cover roughly 38 kilometers (23.6 miles) in length and were
built in the time span from the 11th – 20th centuries.
• Bologna’s Porticos and Arcades are unique in that they are artistically
painted and serve as a type of art gallery.
• San Luca Portico: covers the way from the town to a sanctuary on top
Colle della Guardia. In the past, the walk underneath the portico was a
sacred religious walk where you would say a prayer as you walked to
the sanctuary.
-Nick
http://www.chriscastaldo.com/2010/07/29/porticos

8. La Grassa
• Regional Foods of Bologna
– Bologna is situated in the fertile Po River Valley, where the rich local
cuisine depends heavily on meats and cheeses. Many types of cured
meats and sausages are produced: prosciutto (cured ham), salami,
and mortadella (sausage made of finely hashed or ground, heat-
cured pork flavored with black pepper and myrtle berries).
– The special pastas of Bologna are taglietelle (long, flat, hand-made
egg noodles). tortellini (egg pasta stuffed with vegetables and/or
minced meat), tortelli (small tortellini), and lasagne. The region’s
most famous cheese is parmesan, which comes from the nearby city
of Parma.
-Aiden
http://jonashton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Bologna.jpg

9. La Grassa
• Ragù alla Bolognese
– Ragù alla bolognese is a sauce made with
three different kinds of meat (pork, veal
and beef), tomatoes, herbs and parmesan
cheese. In Bologna, it is simply referred to
as ragù. Ragù is traditionally served with
taglietelle.
-Aiden
http://www.google.com/images

10. La Grassa
• Traditional Deserts of Bologna
• Traditional Bolognese desserts are often linked to
holidays.
• Fave dei morti are multi-colored almond paste
cookies which are made for Ognissanti (1 novemebre).
• Jam-filled raviole cookies are served on Festa del Papà
(San Giuseppe) (19 marzo).
• Certosino is a Christmas (natale) cake that is made
with honey, almonds, candied fruits, butter, raisins,
cinnamon and dark chocolate.
-Aiden
http://klarykoopmans.blogspot.com/2007/12/certosino-italiaanse-kerstcake.html

11. La Dotta
• University founded in 1088, oldest of the west: very active
cultural center, attended by many students, both native and
foreign
• Lots of young people so Bologna has an active club scene,
especially around Piazza Maggiore, old town, and the
university quarter
– Nightclubs, discos, pubs, and live music venues are open 9pm to 4am
– “The student community of Bologna fuels a lively nightlife scene that
can be every bit as radical as the city’s politics”
• Studenti who have just finished final exams climb up Colle
della Guardia hill, a beautiful porticoed 2.3 mile path, up to
the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca to overlook the
city (and scream finito in jubilation)
-Andrea & Shane
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5042/5249476124_5443e49034_z.jpg

12. La Dotta
• University of Bologna -home of Kappa Sigma fraternity which was
founded as a form of protection from antipope John XXIII, who would
rob the university studenti
• Overall satisfaction of the university ranked 4 stars as well as campus
experience by alumni
• Institutional ranking of world universities as of 2012: between 201-300
• Academic rankings on broad subject fields: Natural Science &
Mathematics- ranked between 101-150
– Engineering-151-200
– Chemistry: 51-75
Economics: 151-200
• famous people who attended: Thomas Becket, Copernicus, Pope
Nicholas V.
-Nick
http://www.travelhotelvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/374_304.jpg

13. La Rossa
Tetti rossi (roofs)
http://cdn4.vtourist.com/15/4950113-Palazzo_Bolognini_Bologna_May_2010_Bologna.jpg
Mattoni rossi (bricks)
-Andrea
http://www.vacation-destinations.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Bella-Bolognese-in-Bologna.jpeg

14. La Rossa: Politics and More!
• Comunisti:
– PCI: communist party of Italy founded in 1921
• Major role in Italian Resistence Movement
• Strongest political party of Italy left after WWII
– 2.3 million members in 1947, biggest of the west
• Disbanded in 1991 and replaced with PDS: Partito Democratico della
Sinistra (democratic party of the left)
• Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari (Neo-Fascist)
– Terrorist Attack:
• 8/2/1980, huge bomb planted in Bologna railway station killing at least
75 people
• One of deadliest attacks in Italian history: Strage di Bologna (Bologna
massacre)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/ -Shane

15. You Should Visit Bologna……
• “because it has stayed with its ancient
traditions of art and beauty”-Nick
• “to enjoy the rich, delicious, and
local Italian cuisine.” -Aiden
• “because it has something for everyone, young and
old alike, from learning about its tumultuous
history to its vibrant diverse culture of today.
Ultimately Bologna is all about freedom from
oppression. Who wouldn’t want to visit?” -Andrea
• “to check out the parties: politics & discos” -Shane
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Bologna,_Santuario_della_Madonna_di_San_Luca_001.JPG

16. Works Cited
"Bologna Top 10." 10 Things You Must See and Do during Your Stay in Bologna. Web. 06 Nov.
2012. <http://www.10things.it/guide/bologna/top-10/>.
"Bologna." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 May 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna>.
"Bolognese Sauce." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolognese_sauce>.
"Piazza Maggiore." ItalyGuides.it: Piazza Maggiore, Bologna Italy. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.italyguides.it/us/italy/emilia-romagna/bologna/piazza-maggiore/piazza-
maggiore.htm>.
"The Porticoes of Bologna." The Porticoes of Bologna. Bologna Congressi. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/places-to-see/history-
art/params/Luoghi_490/ref/The%20Porticoes%20of%20Bologna>.
"Towers." Bologna Welcome. Bologna Congressi. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/places-to-see/history-
art/params/CategorieLuoghi_10/ref/Towers>.
"University of Bologna." University of Bologna. Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Web. 06 Nov.
2012. <http://www.shanghairanking.com/Institution.jsp?param=University of Bologna>.
"Virtual Travel to Bologna, Italy." Virtual Tour of Bologna Italy. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.italyguides.it/us/italy/emilia-romagna/bologna/bologna-italy.htm>.
-Andrea