Pinacoteca Nazionale - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Two Towers, both of them leaning, are the symbol of Bologna, Italy, and the most prominent of the Towers of Bologna. They are located at the intersection of the roads that lead to the five gates of the old ring wall. The taller one is called the Asinelli while the smaller but more leaning tower is called the Garisenda. It was one of the iconic attractions in this area and it attracts a lot of tourists.

The Torre del Prendiparte is one of the approximately 20 noble towers still existing in the historic center of the city of Bologna. Erected in the second half of the 12th century, it is 59.50 meters high and is characterized by a slight slope towards the north. The tower was part of the so-called triad of medieval skyscrapers together with those of the Galluzzi and the Azzoguidi.

Santo Stefano is the most unique complex in Bologna, as it is a true city sanctuary and the cradle of our ancestor’s faith. This extraordinary religious site consists of four medieval churches, originally there were seven churches, and therefore it is known by the name of Sette Chiese. Besides churches, this peaceful complex contains of cloisters, tombs, and courtyards, a great place to browse religious art and artifacts too.

The Montagnola garden is one of the oldest and most central green areas in the city of Bologna, which opened for the first time in the 17th century. In the garden of the Montagnola the bodies of Luigi Zamboni and Giovanni Battista De Rolandis were solemnly buried on the direct order of Napoleon, who in 1794 led an attempted revolt to Bologna during which Italian tricolor cockades were used; in 1799, with the arrival of the Austrians, the bodies were dispersed.

Via dell'Indipendenza, commonly called Via Indipendenza, is a street in the historic center of Bologna that leads from Piazza Maggiore to Bologna Centrale station, marking the border between the districts of Porto-Saragozza and Santo Stefano in the city of Bologna. Today, Via Indipendenza is considered the main shopping area of ​​the Emilian-Romagna capital, also crossing the Cathedral of San Pietro, the Arena del Sole, and Piazza VIII Agosto.

Piazza Santo Stefano is one of the most characteristic sights of Bologna. Actually it is more than a square, a widening that originates from via Santo Stefano and leads to the Two Towers. The monumental complex dominating the square is the Basilica of Santo Stefano, commonly known as “seven churches“. It is articulated on seven sacred buildings constructed and reworked in different eras, mainly by the work of the patron saint of Bologna, San Petronio.