Explore the magic of Medieval Bologna with a unique virtual tour! Discover towering structures, endless porticoes, and historic corners all from the comfort of your home. Take a journey through Felsina, Bononia, La Turrita, and La Dotta.

While it’s not the time for physical travel, this doesn’t mean we must give up our adventures! Even though day trips and meals at local restaurants are on pause, we can still explore the world from home thanks to technology. In the age of Covid-19, the digital world offers incredible opportunities, such as visiting Medieval Bologna without leaving your couch. With just a click, you can dive into its ancient streets, admire the majestic towers, and be enchanted by its historic squares.

Enjoy a virtual tour through Felsina, Bononia, and Medieval Bologna, offering a digital yet equally engaging experience!

This tour gives me the chance to share some fascinating historical information about my beloved city. Bologna is an ancient city, even older than Rome. It holds traces from the Iron Age, the Etruscan civilization, and the Roman era. Today, it’s an important metropolis economically and a key transportation hub in Italy, and it’s become a popular tourist destination.

The Origins and Etruscan Period: Bologna started as a small village in the 11th century BC, and under Etruscan rule from the 6th century BC, it became Felsina, one of the most important cities in the Po Valley, thanks to major reclamation works and construction.

Roman Period: Conquered by the Romans in 189 BC and renamed Bononia, the city grew in economic and infrastructural importance, symbolized by the construction of the Via Emilia and an aqueduct still in use today.

Medieval Bologna

During the Middle Ages, Bologna thrived. After the fall of Rome, the city began its revival in the 5th century under the leadership of San Petronio, eventually reaching great prosperity in the 11th century with the founding of the Alma Mater. This institution, the oldest European university, not only attracted renowned scholars and doctors but earned Bologna the title “La Dotta,” symbolizing its cultural primacy.

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Bologna transformed into a city with a distinctive skyline, featuring over 80 towers, symbols of the power of noble families. Constructed with red bricks, these towers contributed to Bologna’s nicknames: “La Turrita” and “La Rossa.”

Adding charm and practicality to the city are its 56 km of porticoes. Originally built to expand private residences, the porticoes became one of Bologna’s most distinctive features, offering shelter from the weather and promoting commercial and artisanal activities.

Bologna also stands out for its innovative and civil spirit, exemplified by the abolition of serfdom in 1265 with the “Liber Paradisus” law. This progressive action, predating similar measures in other countries by centuries, highlights the city’s social and political maturity.

Lastly, Bologna’s canals played a key role in its economic and industrial development. These waterways connected the city to international trade and provided hydraulic energy for silk mills, making Bologna a center of excellence in the European textile industry. Thanks to these innovations, the city grew to a population of 60,000, becoming one of the largest in Europe.

Medieval Bologna is thus a symbol of progress, culture, and harmony between tradition and innovation, leaving a legacy that still resonates in its urban structure and spirit. 

Now you can visit: Medieval Bologna. And when the Covid emergency is over, you’ll be able to organize your in-person visit by booking here: virtual tour of Medieval Bologna.

Go on traveling!

Lety goes on