My little jubilee, the 50th country visited was Liechtenstein. And boy what a ceremony happened. The Principality of Liechtenstein and the Swiss Confederation were celebrating the 100 years of their common Dounae contract. We were about to cross the bridge that was built over the river Rhine, but we were stopped as the celebration was just…
Krapina is my hometown. Zagorje runs through veins. Kajkavian dialect is spoken out loud by my core. So please, allow me to show you a portion of heaven given to us people from Zagorje to enjoy, nourish, and remain proud. Krapina Krapina was first mentioned in 1193. It has always been a favorite site for…
This is a post of a lovely, walkable city that will charm all wine, gastronomy and history lovers. From Markets to Mustard! This capital of Burgundie is calling you to get all its tastes. And you will not know all of these existed! The province was home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until…
Avignon is a city on the Rhône river in the south of France. It is surrounded by walls of Avignon (French: Les Remparts d’Avignon) – a series of defensive stone walls that were originally built in the 14th century during the Avignon papacy and have been continually rebuilt and repaired throughout their subsequent history. We entered through Porte Saint-Michel. The…
This historical province of southeastern France, extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It largely corresponds with the modern administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur . The largest city of the region and its modern-day capital is Marseille. Known for its diverse landscapes, miles of…
Michel de Notre-Dame, as we all know as Nostradamus, was an apothecary by profession, and published in the year 1555 a book called Les Prophéties (The Prophecies). In his collection of 942 poetic quatrains, he predicted various future events that experts, and many amateurs, find a way of interpreting into related events occurring in the present day. Some historical evidence suggests…
This is going to be a short post. Sanremo is a city on the west coast of Italy, in the province of Liguria. It is the capital of the Riviera dei Fiori or Riviera of Flowers. Its casino also makes it a sort of Italian version of Monte Carlo. This large building in Art Nouveau…
Vivid green pesto, great wine and fabulous walks … Genoa is a city of indulgence. Driving in the city, noticing it’s fabulous big secession buildings it reminded me of the importance of Italy: banks, trades, imports of goods and businesses… Genoa was a medieval rival to Venice. It’s not been primped for tourists like Venice, though.…
Rapallo was never on my list. I never thought there could actually be something about this city. It lies on the Ligurian Sea coast, just between Cinque Terre and Genoa. As a girl from Croatia, I know it from the history books as the Treaty of Rapallo was signed there, in Villa Pagana, formerly known as Villa Spinola. A treaty…
The five Cinque Terre villages are situated in northern Italy on the Mediterranean Sea, just 3 hours by train from Milan, Pisa and Florence. I have arrived by car and totally enjoyed the national park that spreads across the five villages. La Spezia My journey started in La Spezia. This was the very first stop as I…
Tintine was slowly climbing up the hills of San Marino. Not much pressure should have been put on this car as she had enough of the shocks in the last year or two. The hills around us were rising and soon we found ourselves surrounded by an amazing view. It was San Marino surrounded by…
My Life in Sicily finished after a year spent on this island. It was time to turn on my Tintine (a beautiful red car), hop on a ferry and say goodbye. I was nostalgic as a was driving through Reggio Calabria. But soon I was in Puglia – the region with the best Italian cheeses.…
I digged into the city not expecting so much history well presented until today and offering so much. My discovery started at Via dell’ Indipendenza where I realised the portici […]
I digged into the city not expecting so much history well presented until today and offering so much. My discovery started at Via dell’ Indipendenza where I realised the portici (engl. archades) are dominating the city. The street is a shopping path as well 🙂
Portici of Via dell’ Indipendenza
From there I came across to Piazza del Nettuno. Unfortunately, the statue was under construction and I did not manage to see it but I entered Palazzo Re Enzo, named after Enzo of Sardinia. As mentioned, I was surprised that everything in Bologna is so well preserved and actually ating from 13 century, like the palaces at Piazza Maggiore – the main square where Palazzo dei Banchi is situated as well – a former banking center of the 16 century when Bologna was a city state like most of the european cities. It is surrounded by the centers of religious and political governance, represented by the cathedral Basilica of San Petronio and the palaces and D’Accursio Palace (city hall).
As seen in the photo below, the Basilica is unfinished but it hosted a seminal event of the 16th century: the coronation of Charles V to Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement VII.
The 14 century Basilica of San Petronio contains an interesting moment of 15th-century Gothic fresco showing Mohammed being tormented by devils in hell.This exact fresco has been an intention of Al-Qaida and other islamic terrorist groups to attack. The painter was inspired by Dante who defined the last circle of hell for infidels and blasphemers. And that was the answer to my question why the military guy stands at the entrance the church with machine gun.
Piazza Galvani shows the statue of Luigi Galvani, a famous bolognese scholar mainly known for his research about bioelectricity, while observing the famous frog he used to study.
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To be more specific, Galvani studied in Bologna at the prestigious university as Bologna has the oldest university of the western hemipshere. This Palazzo dell’ Archiginnasio was founded in 1088. I was pretty impressed by the aula of Teatro Anatomico where anatomy lessons were once held.
After observing the beginning of Bilogna’s history, was ready to taste local dishes. So, by the recomendation of my friends, I went to the district called Quadrilatero. It has an ancient tradition with its greatest development in the Middle Ages that kept its trade vocation throughout the years. The main craft guilds of the city such as goldsmiths, butchers, fishermen,”salaroloi” (workers who salted meat to cure it), the Furriers, Barbers and the Society of Painters, had their headquarters in this area. With its hidden streets and nagging houses, today is a huge attaction to the tourists with the market and restaurants.
Bologna is home of mortadella , tortellini … and great wine of Emilia Romagna region. I enjoyed the San Giovanni.
Then it was a time to visit some of the many many churches and its clousters, like Basilica and Sanctuary of San Domenico and Tombs of the Glossatori. It is one of the major churches in Bologna, builded by Order of Dominicans buried inside the exquisite shrine, re-constructed by Michelangelo.
Basilica of San Domenico with the statue of the santo Domenico
Somehow, I entered behind the church to the gardens of orators and captured this:
Next churh I captured was Basilica of Santo Stefano. Like with many churches in Rome this buidling was temple of the goddess Isis, but during the times of Crusades, it was re-builded and called ”New Jerusalem.”
The innerside is great and 13 century historic dedicated to the Holy Jerusalem. Notice the portici again, on every photo that I took. 🙂
Cloister of San Stefano
From there I ended up in the former Jewish Ghetto. The layout of Bologna’s 16th century ghetto can still be precisely traced amid the narrow streets in the medieval heart of the city: here, a maze of alleys, covered bridges and small windows tells the story of a whole community forced to live in a specific area of the town by order of the Papal State beginning from 1556. In Bologna, Jews lived in the ghetto until 16 century, when they were expelled for the first time. Few years later, they were allowed to come back to town and lived here again until end of same 16 century, when their final expulsion happened: 900 people left Bologna and no Jewish community was allowed into town for more than two centuries.
Fnally, I arrived to the main cityscape of the city and its main recognition: Towers of Bologna, a group of medieval structures.
The reasons for the construction of so many towers are not clear, but what is clear that one of them is leaning and looks scarry. The towers are called Garisenda and Asinelli standing right in the middle of Porta Ravegnanna.
I finished my trip at Piazza della Merchanzia with beautiful 16 century building of commerce. Frome this square via Santo Stefano led to Milano since mediaval times as it leads today.
Bologna is the city of Lambourghini. So, not to forget this important thing for all the lovers of car speed. 🙂
Some 7-8 years later and I arrived to this city again. This time by car. And it still that very same amaze. I was in the city once and again. I reminded myself about the food, portici, the red facades which is why the city is called citta’ rossa...
We sat for a bolognese in a Donatello restaurant. It was delicious as the restaurant’s ceiling was offering the tones of art nouveau – a total contrast to the rest of the medieval-styled city.
Last time I visited, the city had it’s Nettuno fountain under reconstruction. I remember my disappointment. But somehow, the universe pays it back. The fountain is a model example of Mannerist taste of the Italian courtly elite in the mid-sixteenth century.
Apparently, the great Italian poet called Dante (don’t know if you have heard of him 😛 ) lived in Bologna in two different periods of life – in his happy young days and then in the hard years of exile before the Black Guelphs, his mortal enemies, took control of the town. Many hints at Bologna are scattered in his works, while all the Bolognese characters find themselves in Inferno. Only the Saints are saved! I met him in downtown as our paths crossed over the Piazza Maggiore.
Continuing down the Strada Maggiore my legs took me to the Church of Saints Bartholomew and Cajetan. A Renaissance style church, with the splendid interior.
The landmark symbols of the city built by noble families in the 12th century, offering city views – are the Two towers; Garisenda and degli Asinelli. I was never particularly interested in climbing these, so I avoided it this time as well. Instead, I have admired them from below.
Time for an apperitivo. My favorite aperol spritz. In Italy, whenever you sit for your aperitivo break – you will get some small bites of local food. We got the mortadella – a famous local ham. Another favourite of mine 😛 We paired it shortly afterwords with the typical wine of Emilia Romagna region.
Dinner came with the 5 commandments of the Bolognese cuisine:
Do not order spaghetti bolognese in vain.
Do not desire steak milanese, if you can have steak bolognese.
Honour the tortellini, even better in a soup.
Do not wish for any other lasagna than the one green inside lasagna.
Do not forget that in Bologna, mortadella doesn’t not come with pistachio.
Steak bolognese and guanciale (pork cheeks) in red wine sauce
That fresco is wild. The food and wine look beautiful and delicious. And I had no idea the Lamborghini was from Bologna. Such interesting history you talk about, I love to tour an exciting destination and learn so much at the same time.
Thanks for this excellent article. One more thing to mention is that almost all digital cameras come equipped with the zoom lens that permits more or less of a scene to be included by ‘zooming’ in and out. These kind of changes in the aim length usually are reflected within the viewfinder and on significant display screen on the back of the camera.
Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Thank you!
I have wanted to go to Bologna for such a long time! Hopefully in the autumn this year.
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That fresco is wild. The food and wine look beautiful and delicious. And I had no idea the Lamborghini was from Bologna. Such interesting history you talk about, I love to tour an exciting destination and learn so much at the same time.
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I remember learning about Bologna in my culinary classes and always wanted to visit it. Would love to try the food there, especially mortadella!
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Sounds like a great walking route for a day in Bologna!
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Thanks for this excellent article. One more thing to mention is that almost all digital cameras come equipped with the zoom lens that permits more or less of a scene to be included by ‘zooming’ in and out. These kind of changes in the aim length usually are reflected within the viewfinder and on significant display screen on the back of the camera.
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Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
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some genuinely nice and utilitarian information on this website , too I believe the style has got superb features.
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Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Thank you!
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