Orientation

Bologna is a pedestrian’s town. Almost everything happens inside the centro walls, and a walk straight across takes less than 40min. Most travelers arrive at Stazione Centrale, in the north of the city. (Don’t ask for directions to “the station,” as you may end up at the regional station to the east.) Just left of the Stazione Centrale exit, Via dell’Indipendenza begins its run south to the centro, which culminates at Piazza del Nettuno. The larger Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s medieval center, connects to P. del Nettuno. From here, streets branch off and lead to the city’s many museums. Via Francesco Rizzoli runs east from P. del Nettuno to the Two Towers of Bologna and to Via Zamboni, the hub of the city’s university and a major student gathering spot. Via Ugo Bassi runs west from the piazze to Via del Pratello’s many bars. Via dell’Archiginnasio heads south alongside the basilica to Bologna’s classiest quarter, where entrances to designer shops gleam beneath elaborately patterned portico ceilings.