Bologna – home to the oldest university in the Western world, Italy
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
Bologna greets you first with its porticoes. Over forty kilometres of covered walkways line the streets, sheltering pedestrians from sun and rain as they move through a city that has been a centre of learning since 1088. The University of Bologna is the oldest in the Western world, and its influence shapes everything from the young energy in the piazzas to the bookshops that line the ancient arcades. The city is also the culinary capital of Italy, the birthplace of tortellini, mortadella, tagliatelle al ragu, and the creamy gelato that spills from every other shopfront. The two medieval towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, lean at precarious angles against the sky.
Bologna greets you first with its porticoes. Over forty kilometres of covered walkways line the streets, sheltering pedestrians from sun and rain as they move through a city that has been a centre of learning since 1088. The University of Bologna is the oldest in the Western world, and its influence shapes everything from the young energy in the piazzas to the bookshops that line the ancient arcades. The city is also the culinary capital of Italy, the birthplace of tortellini, mortadella, tagliatelle al ragu, and the creamy gelato that spills from every other shopfront. The two medieval towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, lean at precarious angles against the sky.
The city of Bologna is one of the most populated cities in Italy. With almost a million residents in the metro area of Bologna, the city is considered to be the seventh most populous in the nation. The city can be found in the foot hills of the Apennine Mountains; along the edges of the Po Plain, where the Savena and Reno rivers meet and drain into the sea.
Bologna, Italy by Roberto Taddeo
The area where Bologna sits today has been inhabited since the 9th century B.C. In the 19th century, a number of archaeological digs were undergone which uncovered evidence of settlements in the area. In these earliest days, the city of Bologna was known by the name of Villanova. With the rise of the Etruscan Empire, the city’s name would be changed to Felsina and then finally Bona during the reign of the Celts.
During the middle ages, the city of Bologna was considered to be the fifth largest city in the whole of Europe. It is also the home to the University of Bologna which is considered to be the oldest university in the entire world; having been founded back in 1088.
There are many towers located throughout the city and the historical center of town is one of the largest and most well-preserved in the country. As a result of the damaged caused by numerous wars, a huge movement in the 1970s led to the slow but meticulous restoration of the town’s oldest monuments.
Two towers of Bologna, Italy by Luca Volpi
There are many beautiful monuments, structures and churches which can be found throughout the city of Bologna. Many of these can be dated back to well before the 10th and 11th centuries. Every year, millions of visitors make their way to Bologna to see the amazing culture and heritage that this ancient city has to offer.
Have you ever eaten a bowl of tagliatelle al ragu in the city where it was born? If not, would you try it?
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The Two Towers and Piazza Maggiore
The Two Towers of Bologna are the most recognisable symbol of the city. The Asinelli Tower, standing at 97.2 metres, is the tallest leaning medieval tower in the world, while the Garisenda Tower, at 48 metres, leans at a more dramatic angle of approximately 4 degrees. Both towers were built between 1109 and 1119 during a period when wealthy families competed to build the tallest tower as a display of power and prestige. The Asinelli tower is open to the public, and a climb of 498 steps to the top rewards visitors with a panoramic view of Bologna, the surrounding plains, and the Apennine mountains on clear days. The Garisenda tower was originally much taller but was shortened in the 14th century due to structural instability. Dante Alighieri mentioned the Garisenda in his Inferno, comparing the giant Antaeus to the leaning tower. Piazza Maggiore, the main square of Bologna, has been the centre of civic life since the 13th century. The square is surrounded by the basilica of San Petronio, the largest brick church in the world, the Palazzo dei Banchi, the Palazzo del Podesta, and the Palazzo Comunale. The basilica of San Petronio, begun in 1390, was intended to be larger than St Peter in Rome but was never completed. Its unfinished facade reveals the contrasting colours of the marble facing and the bare brick structure behind.
The University and Archiginnasio
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in continuous operation in the Western world. The university originally had no fixed buildings; lectures were held in monasteries, churches, and private homes. The Archiginnasio, built in 1563, was the first purpose-built university building and served as the main seat of the University of Bologna until 1803. The building is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, with a double porticoed courtyard and an upper floor covered in the coats of arms of former students spanning three centuries. The Anatomical Theatre, built in 1637, is a wooden amphitheatre where medical students once observed human dissections. The theatre is decorated with statues of famous physicians and the skinless figures known as the Spellati, or skinned ones. The Teatro has been restored to its original appearance after being damaged in World War II. The university library, the Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna, holds over one million volumes including medieval manuscripts and incunabula. The university continues to be a major centre of learning, with over 85,000 students enrolled across its faculties. The student population animates the city nightlife, particularly around Via Zamboni where bars and trattorias stay open late. Bologna is also home to the oldest botanical garden in Europe, the Orto Botanico, founded in 1568.
Have you ever eaten a bowl of tagliatelle al ragu in the city where it was born? If not, would you try it?
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Practical Tips for Visiting Bologna
Bologna central railway station connects to Milan, Florence, Rome, and Venice by high-speed rail. The journey to Florence takes 35 minutes, to Milan one hour. Bologna Airport is 6 kilometres from the city centre with a shuttle bus taking 20 minutes. The Bologna Welcome Card, 25 euros, provides free entry to civic museums and discounts on attractions and food tours. The Quadrilatero market walking tour takes visitors through the medieval market district where artisanal pasta makers have operated for generations. Bologna has over 40 kilometres of porticoes, designated a UNESCO World heritage site in 2021. The longest, the Portico di San Luca, stretches 3.8 kilometres from the city walls to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. The walk takes approximately one hour each way with views of the city and surrounding countryside.
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