Italy Travel Guide, About Italy Tourism & Tourist Information

Talking about a "city of towers", San Gimignano is famous in Italy. However, also Bologna had been full of towers in 12-13 century - actually there were 100 towers. Now, the Two Leaning Towers are a symbol of Bologna. Garisenda tower is 48m high and Asinelli tower is 97m. Both were constructed in the early 12th century and received the name of the owner family. Garisenda tower was originally 60 m high but it's continuing to lean, so to avoid a risk of collapse it was cutten partly in the 14th century. On the other hand, Asinelli family competed with Garisenda family and showed their power and property building a tower higher than another.

At the time, yet the slope of Garisenda tower fascinated the famous Italian poet Dante. He likened the giant Antaeus to the Garisenda tower in his opera Inferno of the Divine Comedy. There is a stone monument under the tower to commemorate this episode.

If you have time and stamina, please try to climb this tower on a good weather day. It's possible to overlook the city of Bologna in solid brick. You should also find a lot of other 20 towers unexpectedly. The latter half of the steps of the tower (498 steps) is made of wood so it's required walking shoes. To those who afraid of heights it's not recommended.

from AMO ITALY

Talking about the city of Bologna, its University is very very famous. University of Bologna, founded in 1088 is known as the Europe's oldest university. This is the old location Archiginnasio palace. It was built by Antonio Morandi in 1563 to put together university facilities in one place.

The courtyard clock continued to ring its bells to tell the opening hour for over 200 years until 1803, when the campus of University of Bologna was moved to the current location. Ceiling and walls are filled with coats of arms of teachers and graduates. Inscriptions on the emblem represent their hometown, illustrating that excellent students and scholars gathered here from all over Europe, not only in Italy. Currently here is used as a city library.

Please also visit the second floor room, which was used for anatomy of human bodies. Don't worry, there is no grotesque display. In the Middle Ages, in this room covered with a wooden wall and decorations, some human anatomy lectures were held for students. At that time the human anatomy was unthinkable for Christians. However, in the heart of Bologna, they could organize anatomies for the development of science.

from AMO ITALY

Margherita park built in the late 1800s is very large and perfect for exploring. Located adjacent to the trail around the old town, during weekends it becomes a place of relaxation for the citizens of Bologna. With the increase of the population, this park would be the only place full of greenery around the old town.