Private or semi-private tour of the historic center of Bologna
Description
Visit the red streets of the historic center of Bologna, visiting the symbolic places of the city and discovering their secrets Art, history and gastronomy, but also secrets, legends and suggestions of contemporary life: discover everything that has made Bologna one of the most popular destinations for tourists in recent years with a certified guide, as well as a true Bolognese DOC, on a tour private dedicated to you
Tour Options
Itinerary
Together we will explore the heart of Bologna, Piazza Maggiore or Piazza Grande, as Lucio Dalla calls it, but for the Bolognese simply the Piazza, discovering some of the most popular "Pulcinella secrets" of the city.
In marble and bronze, the Fountain of Neptune is the second symbol of Bologna and known by the Bolognese as Il Gigante. Built by the Flemish Giambologna on a project by Tommaso Laureti between 1563 and 1566 and commissioned by Pope Pius IV, it is a symbol of papal power: as Neptune dominates the waters, so the Pope dominates the world. At the feet of the God are in fact four putti, representing the Ganges, Nile, Amazon River and Danube, that is the rivers of the continents then known
Palazzo Re Enzo is a historic building located in Piazza Maggiore, built in 1244-46 as an extension of the municipal buildings. It was so called because, during the thirteenth century it became the "residence" of King Enzo of Sardinia, a prisoner of the battle of Fossalta. The war machines were kept on the ground floor, while the sessions of the popular councils were held on the loggia on the first floor.
Inaugurated in December 2001, it is today the most important cultural center of the city. Inside Palazzo d'Accursio, the "almost castle", the ancient historical seat of the Municipality that overlooks Piazza Maggiore, which has always been the center and heart of Bologna, you can admire the ancient excavations and the sedimentation of the various civilizations in one scenery of harmony and light. Centuries of history thus relive, from the first settlements of huts of the Villanovan civilization of the VII century BC, to the Etruscan Felsina, to the Roman Bononia founded in 189 BC
Palazzo D’Accursio or Palazzo Comunale is one of the most important buildings in Bologna, the seat of the Municipality of the city since 1336. Consisting of a set of buildings that over the centuries have gradually been joined to an older nucleus acquired by the Municipality at the end of the thirteenth century, the inside of the complex can be visited by climbing the sixteenth-century cordoned staircase attributed to Bramante and originally conceived for the triumphal ascent on horseback of the representatives of the city government, a succession of rooms-loggias and chapels.
We will visit the main place of worship in Bologna, surprisingly not the cathedral and we will discover the reason for its not really canonical appearance. Inside we will see the Bolognini Chapel, the longest sundial in the world and the four crosses For groups of more than 2 people it is necessary to rent an audio guide at the entrance of the basilica (not included in the cost of the tour)
Seat of the University of Bologna for three centuries, the Archiginnasio building remains a place full of charm. The ancient customs of students and professors, the heraldic coats of arms, the illuminated manuscripts and ancient books, the stands and the wooden statues of the anatomical theater make the visitor travel back in time
The ancient central market of Bologna, from the Middle Ages the main trading center of the city, now a picturesque maze of historic shops, places to enjoy a good glass of wine and street food
Bologna, the small medieval New York whose horizon was marked by more than 100 towers. Why so many? Where did they go? Let's discover some curiosities about the symbolic monument of Bologna from the city gate
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Wheelchair accessible
- Light walking involved
Reviews(34)
Isadora’s food and culture tour was recommended to us by a close friend and travel agent, and although expensive, we were very impressed by the whole experience. Isadora is a very knowledgeable and engaging young woman who demonstrated a love for her city and region, as well as a desire to provide an enjoyable and immersive experience for her clients in the heart of Bologna. I was particularly impressed by the way she accommodated my dietary needs in a seamless and natural manner. I would not hesitate to recommend Isadora’s tour to those visiting Bologna.
This tour is a great way to learn the history of the main palazzo of Bologna it covers all of main buildings in the area and also a walk through the food areas, about 3 hours of easy walking and plenty of history. The guides being locals obviously know their town and provide excellent tour information.
Isadora gave us a wonderful overview of Bologna, both past and present. It was a perfect introduction to the city on our first day. . She has many good suggestions and recommendations for things to do and see. We loved the pasta bistro she recommended for dinner.
Excellent tour and the private tour guide was excellent in the information she shared about Bologna. Would definitely recommend.
Very interesting and informative! We were given great pieces of information about Bologna and terrific recommendations for where we could get various foods. Spot on!
Isadora was a wonderful tour guide. She shared lots of history about Bologna as well as funny facts. We visited many different sites. We also learned about Italian cuisine and we certainly understand why Bologna is such a food capital. Isadora gave us great suggestions for things to do in the afternoon as well as restaurants for dinner.... and the best Gelato places in town. So our tour with her just kept giving.
We did both the private walking tour and the food tour with Isadora and both were excellent! Isadora was extremely knowledgeable as well as very patient (our group contained our two young children, who were adjusting to the time difference). We learned a lot about the beautiful city and even though it rained off and on both days we were there, Isadora was able to adjust our tour in response to the rain and we still had a wonderful time. I would definitely recommend both tours! Isadora also provided great dinner recommendations for us, which was above and beyond and really made our trip.
Isadora took us on a thorough, informative, and all-around great walking tour of the center of Bologna. She was informative, personable, and tried to understand our specific interests. 5/5!
An absolute pleasure walking around Bologna. Even in the rain, walking through galleries, eyeing shops and getting the story of the city, it was a fun time. Highly recommended.
My family booked a tour of Bologna with Isadora in March 23. We like to get a guided tour by locals, on the first day we get into a new city to get a better sense of the city and how things work, plus get the sights in. Isadora was wonderful. Her English is amazing. She showed us all the sights to see. More importantly, she loves wine and food, as do we. She gave us the all the tips on where to eat and drink. We were able to experience a locals only kind of day because of her tips. She was also very open to providing restaurant suggestions months before we got there and was helpful in giving us some tip on balsamic tastings outside of Bologna. I'd highly recommend booking with Isadora, you won't regret it. We didn't.
