Bologna: Italy’s most underrated city?

This post comes courtesy of Helen from The Runaway Club, who has very kindly written a contribution on one of her favourite budget destinations in Europe: Bologna. A self-confessed travel addict, Helen has been all over the world. Here, she explains why Bologna is the perfect destination for travellers to Italy.

As tourists flock to Venice, Rome and Florence they’re missing out on the home of tortellini, ragu and the world’s oldest university. Is Bologna Italy’s most underrated city?

When the time comes for second year language students to choose their year abroad destination, things can get heated. Spanish students fight for the two Buenos Aires spots available, French students are divided into the sophisticated Paris dwellers and the sun-seeking fun lovers heading south. When it came to choosing an Italian destination, I didn’t have much of a clue. I was essentially an imposter, having only visited Italy once before starting an Italian degree, and so was easily swayed when my Italian tutor advised “Go to Bologna, definitely Bologna.” And how right she was. Here’s why you should choose Bologna for your next city break.

View from the balcony with Santuario San Luca on the hilltop

There are more Italian people than English people there

Don’t get me wrong, I adore Venice. Florence is beautiful. Rome has so much going on. But I didn’t hear a whole lot of Italian in any of those cities. A quest to practice your new language skills can be quashed by hordes of tourists from your own city following your every move and waiters in any restaurant returning your efforts to speak Italian with a sympathetic smile and a response in English.

Bologna is much less established on the tourist trail and not as many people speak English there, so you’ll be forced to give your language skills a good go. If they’re rather elementary though, not to worry. As with any Italian interaction, gestures get you a long way.

Christmas lights near Piazza Maggiore

It’s the Brighton of Italy

Perhaps driven by the 85,000 students attending the world’s oldest university, Bologna  is more liberal than many Italian cities. It’s known for being on the wacky side, and the dress code is a world away from the sleek sophistication of Milan. Dreadlocks are ubiquitous. Gay Pride hits the streets every June. The students give the city a youthful vibe which complements rather than clashes with the old Bolognese couples strolling down the street hand in hand.

Food, food, food

Bologna is also known as ‘La Grassa’, or ‘The Fat One’, and this title is well deserved. The British fave spaghetti bolognese harks from this city, although don’t ask for it in a restaurant – they’ll stare at you blankly. In Italy the meat sauce is called ‘ragu’, which varies from region to region but Bologna’s is said to be the best, hence ‘bolognese’.

Bologna is also the home of tortellini, a mushy student staple in the UK but a culinary delight when done properly. Beef ragu, ricotta, pumpkin…make sure to try all the fillings. If that’s still not enough, Parma (home of parmesan cheese and Parma ham) and Modena (home of balsamic vinegar) are close enough to do in a day.

Easter treats take over Bologna as Settimana Santa approaches

You’ll get some exercise

Bologna is the perfect size for walking around – and you’ll be glad you did. Sore feet are a small price to pay for the joy of strolling around a city where everything is outrageously beautiful. The university is housed in Napoleon’s former palace – casual. Every side street is offensively charming.

Be sure to save some energy though, as for 3€ you can climb one of Bologna’s two towers for a panoramic view of the city. This is an adventure in itself, as the (very long) staircase to the top is rickety to say the least. As you reach the top panting, you won’t be disappointed. This is the best place to see the whole “Red City”, so called because of all the terracotta buildings, surrounded by mountainous countryside. Plus, on the way up you might have worked off some of that pasta…

Helen White

Helen loves London as much as she loves running away from it. Having lived in Bologna and Costa Rica, she’s now settled in London for a while, but still gets the chance to escape now and then. She currently runs two blogs: for adventures from around the globe see www.therunawayclub.co.uk , and for posts on eating drinking and playing in London, see www.liveloveldn.co.uk.