If you are interested in mouth-watering chocolate and enjoy great music under historical arches, Bologna is the place for you.
The Italian city will transport one to the medieval era with its culture, music, food and even industries. We were on the inaugural Emirates direct flight to Bologna earlier this month.
The brick-coloured buildings and the statues of those who played an important role in the city’s history rise high over cobblestone streets. Street musicians entertain in the open spaces, making passersby stop and admire their tunes.
The smell of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wafts through the streets and markets while a myriad of chocolates, especially dark chocolate, in shops are simply beckoning customers.
Moreover, the city is famous for its uncultivated white truffles that grow in fall, while the rest of Europe produces black truffles.
With a unique character the Italian city attracts increasing number of tourists each year, Enrico Postacchini, chairman of Bologna Airport, told us upon arrival. Postacchini said the city’s airport has a capacity of 7,500,000 passengers a year and plans to increase its capacity are on.
“We begin big investments next year for five years just to enlarge the commercial area and get everything we need to have more passengers,” he told tabloid!. The airport is already considered among the top European airports in terms of connectivity, we were informed.
Here are some of the attractions that visitors can enjoy in Bologna and the neighbouring areas:
Bologna city centre
This includes the main square and the university district, where one of the world’s oldest university resides. On its ceiling, the names of countries from where students have come to study there are carved in amazing colourful images.
Food market
Weaving your way through the stalls at the food market wonderfully revives one’s appetite. Cafés and restaurants sit comfortably among the stalls of fresh vegetables and fruits, along with stores that sell fresh fish and sea food, cheese and mortadella.
Climb a tower
Once in Bologna, a visitor notices several towers rising high above buildings. Some that are open to tourists include the Prendiparte Tower, which dates back to the twelfth century when it was a defence tower and then became a prison. Other towers too were used for defence purposes but the Prendiparte is now a touristic attraction and can be rented for bed and breakfast.
The owner Matteo Giovanardi explained to us that he himself lived in the tower for nearly seven years between his first and second marriage. He is renting it to people who are interested and people from all over the world have stayed in the tower which he inherited from his family and intends to keep. The view from the tower — nearly 300 steps in a narrow wooden and stones stairs — is worth the climb. The whole city looks like a post card of a scene from the medieval era from up here.
Visit Motor Valley
If California, United States, is the silicon valley, Italy’s Modena is motor valley. Nearly 20 minutes by car from the city centre of Bologna, it houses companies that are making some of the most luxurious and sporty cars in the world, including Maserati and Ferrari.
Panini Museum in Modena
This is a privately owned museum by the Panini family of Modena that gives a glimpse of some of the most fascinating automobiles in history. It houses tens of old cars, mainly Maserati, motorcycles and trucks. Visits need to be booked in advance.
Castello Monte Vibiano in Umbria
Keep a full day to visit the massive olive orchards owned by Monte Vibiano, the company well-known for providing olive oil bottles in first and business class of reputed airlines, including Emirates. It takes nearly a four hour drive from bologna. Monte Vibiano CEO, Lorenzo Fasola Bologna, hosted us to a traditional meal during olive oil squeezing season — toasted bread slightly soaked with freshly squeezed olive oil and eaten with cheese and boiled lentil.
When in Florence
Thanks to its efficient transportation infrastructure, going to Florence by fast train takes only half an hour. The city has several attractions, including museums and Michael Angelo’s statue of David. Long queues form outside the museums as hundreds of tourists can be seen in the city. The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum offers a glimpse into the life and legacy of the famous Italian designer.
Leather school in Florence
A visit to the school might convince you to join it and learn making leather products. Late American president Eisenhower’s desk, late Princess Diana’s jewellery box are some of the items the school has created.
Mosaics workshop
A visit to the privately-owned workshop inside the ancient hospital of San Francesco de’ Macci offers spectacular scenes to a traditional art and technique used to produce the stone-based art work.
Souvenirs
Chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And cheese, especially Parmigiano Reggiano, pasta (if you are one of those who enjoy cooking), olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ready-made fresh sauces, jars of white truffle, leather products such as wallets, purses, jackets and shoes.
If you go
Emirates flies daily to Bologna. Ticket prices start at Dh3,365 for economy Dh18,415 for business class
