The 7 secrets of Bologna: all waiting to be discovered

The 7 secrets of Bologna: all waiting to be discovered

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Bologna: discover the 7 secrets of the ‘learned, fat and red’ city

Bologna is one of the perfect Italian cities to visit on the weekend. It has many surprises waiting for its visitors, especially if you choose a very special itinerary like this one: the seven secrets of Bologna. It is a route that all the Bolognese know and that you can enjoy on your next trip.

 

The virility of Neptune

It starts with one of the symbols of the city, namely the statue of Neptune, which stands atop the fountain in the square of the same name. Well, do you see the free hand, the one not holding the trident? If you stand near the library steps, the index finger of that hand, for a curious (but it would be more correct to say ‘itchy‘) optical effect, will appear to you as the erect phallus of the god of the seas.

 

The ‘telephone’ of the Podestà

Move to the Palazzo del Podestà, which directly overlooks Piazza Maggiore. Stand under the vault of the Podestà, in one of the four corners to be precise: you will be able to hear, by an incredible acoustic play, distinctly any word spoken by all the people standing in the other three corners.
The effect is incredible. Such a system, an authentic ‘wireless telephone’, seems to have been devised during the Middle Ages to make lepers confess.

 

A broken vase and a lot of superstition

Never, never climb to the top of the Asinelli tower before you graduate or you risk not obtaining the coveted degree. Every student here knows this and obsequiously respects this little precept. For everyone else, at the top of the Asinelli tower there is a broken vase that would represent the innate problem-solving ability of the Bolognese.

 

Bread, wine and… cannabis

Without getting too carried away: pleasure is an essential element of Bologna: after all, what’s wrong with enjoying life a little? So much so that, as an imperishable reminder of this sacred recommendation, one can read under the Scappi tower: Panis vita, canabis protectio, vinum laetitia, ‘Bread is life, wine is joy, cannabis is protection’.

 

Three arrows and a ceiling

At the entrance to Corte Isolani, there are three arrows stuck in the wood of a portico. Legend has it that three brigands, intent on shooting a Bolognese nobleman to death, were distracted by a beautiful maiden standing naked at the window… and misjudged their aim, causing the arrows to end up in the ceiling of the portico.

 

Little Venice

From Via Piella, a small window overlooks one of the last remaining city canals in Bologna. A truly romantic glimpse that the many couples have decided to make even more special by drawing little hearts and writing love phrases.

 

Panum resis

There is yet another Latin locution that, in reality, would not have a very precise meaning. “Panum resis’ would mean that knowledge is the basis for any decision. And legend has it that this inscription stands out on the table in the Alma Mater Studiorum headquarters in Palazzo Poggi.

It is a legend because there are those who say they have actually seen it, and there are those who have searched for it throughout the university premises without ever finding it. Does it really exist? In the meantime, it does its job: to communicate a very important concept and make Bologna even more fascinating than it already is.

 

Tours of Bologna

The Forexchange branch in Bologna is located in the central Bologna station: here you can find all the tourist information you need to organise your visit. Reach Bologna easily by train by purchasing a Trenitalia ticket. We are waiting for you!

 

Photo Credits:
Antonino Diano, Wikimedia

Ultime news

Visiting the Scrovegni Chapel, Giotto's masterpiece in Padua

The Scrovegni Chapel in Padua is a place of great popularity. Here, in fact, is preserved one of the most famous painting cycles created by Giotto and his school. The work represents one of the greatest examples of Western figurative art, a revolutionary and marvellous work. Every year thousands of tourists come to Padua to visit this unique place and admire what is considered Giotto’s masterpiece. The History of the Scrovegni Chapel The official name of this building would be ‘Santa Maria della Carità’. “Scrovegni’ is the surname of the commissioner of the work, Enrico degli Scrovegni, a banker, politician and patron of the arts from Padua. His father, Rinaldo degli Scrovegni, was a man of great fame at the time, even though this was not the best: Dante had put him in Inforno for his activities as a usurer. According to some rumours, Enrico commissioned the Scrovegni Chapel to ‘expiate’ his father’s sins. In reality, it seems that Enrico had followed in his father’s footsteps, leveraging his monetary activities to pursue a career in politics. Building such a church was a way of ingratiating himself with papal power, gaining a very important political ally. The banker spared no expense to realise the work and relied on the greatest painter of the time, the Tuscan Giotto di Bondone. Giotto’s revolution in Padua Giotto frescoed the entire cycle in the chapel of Santa Maria della Carità in just two years, in the period between 1303 and 1305. The frescoes cover the entire interior surface of the building, representing the History of Salvation. On the triumphal arch and along the aisles we see the Stories of the Life of the Virgin and Christ. On the main walls we find the representation of the Vices and Virtues, with a representation of the Last Judgement on the counter façade. The work is majestic and revolutionary. Giotto introduces, in fact, various elements of perspective, beginning to propose a rendering of the third dimension that will anticipate the pictorial theories of the Renaissance by more than a hundred years. Human beings are represented in their most concrete physicality, animated by real passions, joys and sorrows. As of 2021, the frescoes of the Scrovegni Chapel are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visiting the Scrovegni Chapel: information and useful tips To visit the Scrovegni Chapel it is advisable to book in advance. The ticket office is about 100 m from the site, at the entrance to the Musei Civici agli Eremitani in Piazza Eremitani n.8. It is necessary to be at the entrance of the Chapel at least 5 minutes before the time indicated on the ticket. The visit lasts 15 minutes. In the event of a delay, it will not be possible to enter once the tour has started, but it will be necessary to pay a new ticket and enter the next guided tour. Each tour is for groups of no more than 10 persons, including a guide. These restrictions are due to the fact that the interior of the Scrovegni Chapel is protected and micro-climatised. The entrance and exit doors cannot therefore be opened except at set times. It is possible to take photographs inside the building, as long as you do not use flash and do not touch the paintings. It is not permitted to enter with pets, bags, food and drink. Discover Padua and its treasures In addition to the splendid Giottesque chapel, the centre of Padua has much to offer its visitors. This is the case with the majestic Basilica of Sant’Antonio da Padova, the Palazzo Bo, the Palazzo della Ragione and the Musei Civici Eremitani. Not only that, the Veneto city also boasts grand squares, such as the Piazza dei Signori. The Prato della Valle square in Padua is one of the largest and most impressive in Europe. Find out more about this fascinating city, book your City Sightseeing Padua tour now. Photo Credits: Hugo DK, Wikimedia

30 April 2024

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