Bologna

The metropolitan city of Bologna, administrative centre of the Emilia-Romagna region, is located between the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Po Valley.
It is famous for having almost 40 km of porticoes in its historical centre (inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021) alone. This massive presence is due to the huge expansion that the city experienced in the Middle Ages and the consequent need to put all available space to good use.
The heart of Bologna is piazza Maggiore, which is overlooked by the imposing Basilica of San Petronio and medieval buildings that include the 13^th century Palazzo del Podestà and the Arengo tower above it; Palazzo Re Enzo and the Palazzo Comunale (also d'Accursio), today the town hall and exhibition area for the municipal art collections and the Salaborsa library.
The most iconic symbols of Bologna are Giambologna’s fountain of Neptune in the square of the same name and the 22 medieval towers (of 100) that are still intact, including the famous torre degli Asinelli (98 m high)  and torre della Garisenda (48 m high).
Bologna can also boast the presence of the oldest university in the West, Alma Mater Studiorum, housed since inception in the Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio which contains the Anatomy Theatre in inlaid wood where anatomy was taught in centuries past. In addition, the porticoes and ancient alleyways feature the lively Quadrilatero market with its traditional artisanal workshops and the 12^th century canals which can also be visited underground.