Culture & History in Bologna

This in-app audio tour offers a self-guided exploration of Bologna's timeless treasures along the well-planned route. You'll encounter iconic landmarks, magnificent basilicas, and significant historical sites that have shaped Bologna's identity. Begin your adventure at Via Indipendenza, close to the central railway station. As you walk along the most important street in Bologna in the direction of its main square, the expertly crafted audio commentary will bring you back in time, to the the Middle Ages. As you step in the Piazza Maggiore, you will be amazed by the Basilica of St. Petronio — the last large example of the late Gothic style of architecture in Italy. Next, you will pass by the Basilica of St.Domenico adorned with the statues by young Michelangelo. You will then see the real symbol of Bologna, which feature on every postcard – the Two Towers, one of which is the highest leaning tower in Europe. Then, you will stop by the famous University of Bologna – the oldest continuously-operating university in the world that scholars like Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, Albrecht Dürer, Nicolaus Copernicus, Paracelsus, and Guglielmo Marconi, called their alma mater. After that, you will explore the Jewish Ghetto and its significance in the city's cultural mosaic. Finally, you'll discover the stunning architecture of the Basilica of St. Francis. There, you may choose to extend your journey by taking the San Luca Express to the church on the hill.