Bologna landmarks

Italy is loved by tourists from all over the world. People come here at any time of the year: the country is always interesting. Bologna is an ancient city with historical and cultural monuments at every step. It has preserved many architectural landmarks from different periods. They attract tourists for walks under the numerous arcades, admiring the towers, ancient buildings, narrow streets filled with a special atmosphere of the life of ancient Italy. Ancient parks, churches, buildings fascinate with their dissimilarity to everything else. In order to examine everything in detail, it will take more than one week. In addition, the city is listed by UNESCO as a city of music. The sights of Bologna will remain in your memory for a long time. Let's talk about the most popular ones.

Neptune Square

The appearance of the main city square became a necessity for market trade, a place for holding tournaments of knights, and folk festivals. Death sentences, appeals from the authorities, and new laws were read from the balcony of the Podestà Palace. The city center is formed by two adjacent squares (Piazza Maggiore and Piazza Nettuno). The last square was created at the behest of Cardinal Cesi in 1565. All the old buildings located on the Big Square of the city were demolished.

The first architectural decoration was the statue of Neptune, confirming the power of Pope Pius IV. The main architectural values ​​of the ancient period of the city's life are located in the central square. Among them are the palaces of Comunale (City Hall), Nettuno, Podesta, del Re Enzo, del Banks, del Notan (Notaries), the old church of San Petronio. The modern dimensions of the square are a rectangle with a length of 115 m and a width of about 60 m. Medieval streets, famous falling towers, bright buildings, an old fountain create a special beauty and significance of the city.

The square is located in the historic center. Find out a detailed history of all buildings simply by participating in numerous excursions with a Russian-speaking guide.

Fountain of Neptune

The oldest fountain in Italy was built in 1563. Commissioned by Cardinal Borromeo. It was based on the ideas of engineer Lauretti, architect Lupi. The bronze sculptures of the fountain are made by Gianbolonia. Symbolically, the actions of the majestic Neptune, pacifying the sea waves, are associated with the power of Pope Pius IV. The fountain is sometimes called "Giant" because of its size (the height of the sculpture is 3.2 m, weight is about 2.5 tons).

The water for the amazingly intertwined 90 jets comes from a special aqueduct leading to the Remonda spring, located next to the monastery (its author was Lauretti). Over the five centuries of its existence, the fountain has been repaired and renewed several times. In 1990 it regained its former splendor. Next to the figures of the inhabitants of the seas (sirens, cherubim, dolphins, etc.), asymmetrical bowls appeared tablets with the names of people involved in the creation of a magnificent architectural monument. The sculpture is located in the historic center of the city.

University Palace

The exact date of the opening of one of the oldest universities in the world has not been precisely established. It is known that in the 11th century there was a "liberal arts" school. It taught the basics of rhetoric, Roman law (Irnerius gave his lectures here in 1088). The unique traditions of university education were laid down long ago and were used to gain knowledge by great names (Copernicus, Galdoni, Durer, etc.) The teaching building (university palace) was erected by order of Pius IV with the participation of the architect Morandi (Terribilia) in 1563.

The general complex of buildings includes the remains of ancient buildings located nearby and used for training. The archimnasium (higher school) was gradually turning into a comfortable, complete ensemble, which since 1803 has become the seat of the university. The palace has two floors, a courtyard framed by comfortable porticoes. Two wide staircases with numerous auditoriums lead to the second floor of the palace. Among them there are classes (hall of literature, lawyers), decorated with an original technique in the form of coats of arms belonging to the families of the best students, teachers (about 7000 units).

Address of the University Piazza Galvani, 1. Paid excursions to the most interesting rooms of the palace (anatomical hall, library) are organized.

Archimnasium

On the second floor of the university palace there is a room that has been used since ancient times for the study of corpses and public autopsies. By the way, representatives of the Inquisition always watched the autopsy through a special secret window. The building was erected in 1637, looks like an amphitheater, decorated with carved wood figures created by Antonio Levante. Among them are "Torn" statues, busts of Ercole Lelli, famous doctors.

Address: Piazza Galvani, 1. That most famous physicist Luigi Galvani, who founded the theory of electricity. In his honor, a monument has been erected on the square, indicating the way to the desired building.

Asinelli and Garisenda Towers

In the Middle Ages, a small area of ​​the settlement was decorated with a huge number of high-rise buildings in the form of towers (today 19 towers have survived). Most of the towers were erected in the XII XIII centuries. Two of them, standing at the intersection of roads leading to the ancient city walls, have become a symbol of modern Bologna. The name of the Asinelli (97 m) and Garisenda (48 m) towers comes from the names of noble families who lived around 1120. The Asinelli tower housed a prison, a small bastion for defensive purposes.

It was connected by a suspended bridge with the Garisenda tower. Famous scientists Riccioli, Guglielmini carried out experiments in it to study the laws of rotation of the earth, the motion of rigid bodies. In wartime, an observation post was located here. Now it is a unique opportunity to see the city and its surroundings. The architectural complex Two Towers is located at Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. You can only visit the Asinelli Tower from 9 am to 6 pm.

Palazzo Comunale

From anywhere in the city, you can see a building that rises on a hill, reminiscent of an ancient fortification. It is a complex of several buildings from different times. Since its construction in 1290, the architectural masterpiece has served as the residence of the country's famous professor Francis Accorzo (who gave the second name to the palace). Since 1336, important meetings of the elders of the city and the administration have been regularly held there. In one of the halls of the palace (Farnese or Royal), the coronation of Charles V took place.

Today, the building houses works of art by many famous painting masters. In the art gallery you can see the painting by Pierrot de la Francesca "The Resurrection of Christ". Inside the palace is the Morandi Museum (opened in 1993), which houses works donated by members of the famous family. The facade of the beautiful palace is decorated with a bronze monument to the native of the city, the famous reformer of Pope Gregory XIII.

Address of Palazzo Comunale (municipality): Plaza Maggiore.

Palazzo Re Enzo

For a long time, the ancient palace of the Gothic style served as a heavy prison. The famous prisoner, the King of Sardinia, the son of Emperor Frederick Enzo, languished among its walls for over 20 years. The Palazzo Re Enzo was built around 1246. The original objectives of the new construction were to expand the premises of the Palazzo del Podesta required for the urban community. It was the so-called "New Palace" After the victory in the Battle of Fossalta, it began to function as a military building. The first floor was occupied by rooms for storing weapons. Court hearings were held in the Trecento hall (later the military archive was housed there).

Now the palace has been restored, it houses an interesting Chapel of Our Lady (prisoners), cells where prisoners served time, a medieval courtroom.The building is distinguished by its extraordinary acoustics. The tower with the Campanazzo bell rises above the palace. Under his fight, residents of the city gathered in emergency situations. And now a flashing lamp, fixed at the corner of the palace, announces the birth of another baby.

It is located at: Piazza Maggiore 1. You can explore the palace with paid tours of the historic city center.

Palazzo Podesta

In 1200, representatives of the local administration were called podesta. A medieval palace was built as their residence. The elegant building has elements of the Gothic style, similar to the decoration of the Kremlin Palace. They were created by the same architect (the bell tower teeth have the same dovetail shape). Over a long period of its life, the elongated building of the palace was repeatedly restored, decorated with elements of the Renaissance (with the support of the Bentivoglio family). Among them are the statues of Saints Petronio, Dominic, Proculus, Francis.

In the palace at different periods of life there were trading rows of merchants, local artisans, a courtroom (at one time the palazzo was called the Palace of Justice). Theater, playing field, sports hall for firefighters. Now in the halls of the first palace exhibitions of photographs and paintings are held. In summer, open-air viewing of old films is organized in front of the palace.

The palace is located in Piazza Maggiore. It is easy to get to it on the bus route 29 B. You can visit the palace together with excursions at no additional charge.

Palazzo dela Mercantia

The Gothic Palace of Commerce appeared on the site of the Customs building around 1390. Trading offices and corporations became the owners of the building. In the courtrooms, disputes between merchants were resolved. Later, the Palace housed the City's Chamber of Commerce (1811). Together with numerous documents, it contains acts containing unique recipes for the cuisine of the population of Emilli Romagna.

The post-war destruction of the building was restored in 1949. The alleged architects of the project are members of the Marchesi family, Andrea and Giacomo. The palace is decorated with a portico with Doric columns, a frieze composed of an original geometric pattern, medallions. The facade of the red brick building is decorated with a small snow-white balcony. The convictions were read from him. Merchants convicted of fraud were tied to a pillory for public ridicule.

The Fairy Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Now it houses the law faculty of the famous university, numerous offices. The rich interior decoration of the palace can be seen using excursion offers. The palace is located on the eponymous Mercantia square (located at the junction of Santo Stefano, Castiglione, Caprarie streets).

City Archaeological Museum

The museum began its activity in 1861 with the collection "Rooms of Antiquity". During the entire period of its existence, the exhibits of the museum were replenished with elements found during archaeological excavations and other places in Italy. Until now, new objects appear from the life of the Etruscans who lived in this place in distant antiquity (from the burials of the Margarita Gardens park). These are household items, jewelry, ceramics, bronze items, weapons from different historical periods. The age of some is about 700 thousand years.

The museum's collections are systematized into eight thematic sections. Their inspection takes place during a short excursion. The exposition of finds from ancient Greece contains Roman copies of interesting sculptures, statues, and household items. The Egyptian collection of the museum is one of the best collections in Europe (3500 artifacts from the Old Kingdom of the Ptolemaic rule). The numismatic collection is represented by 100 thousand coins, original medals, stamps.

Museum address: via dell'Archiginnasio 2. Open from 9 am to 6.30 pm.

Palazzo Poggi Museum

The building was erected for an influential, wealthy family of the middle of the 16th century. The alleged author of the building is called the architects Tybaldi, Triakini. Beautiful frescoes for the decoration of the palace were created by Niccolo del Abbate, Tybaldi. Since 1721, the palace was transferred for the work of the administration, the numerous administration of the university (it is located here and now). An Astronomical Tower and a library were added to the building in the form of an additional extension.

Now it houses one of the most interesting museums in the city, demonstrating the amazing achievements of astronomy. Antique instruments, versions of sundials, paintings, photographs of the starry sky tell in detail about the stages of development of the most interesting science of astronomy. The lower floor of the building houses the Hall of Hercules with the famous statue of the mythical hero of 1730, Angelo Pio. Nearby there is an old auditorium, where the poet Carducci, who received the Nobel Prize in 1906, lectured on the Italian language and literature for 40 years.

Museum address: Via Zamboni, 33. Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm.

Medieval Museum

The building of the museum was built on the site of the antique palace of the 15th century Palazzo Gisilardi. The rich heritage of museum collections was formed on the basis of private collections of the wealthy class of Italy. The main part of the exhibits tells about the life of Bologna in the Middle Ages. Items of ivory (engraved 12th century), bronzes, glass, monumental tombstones, crosses (gilded, dating from the 8th century).

Among the rare exhibits is a 13th century jug made in Syria and Turkish arrows from the 17th century. In one of the halls there is an old fountain (the author of the work of the 13th century has not been installed) with four figures of Atlanteans. Medieval documents are considered an invaluable gift to humanity. Museum address: st. Manzoni, 4. The museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

National Pinakothek

Many churches and monasteries were closed by the French, who plundered valuable art collections. In order to preserve the remaining values, it was decided to place a single congregation in the monastery of St. Vitaly. This was the beginning of the formation of the country's famous Pinakothek. In 1875, paintings of the XIII-XVIII centuries, old icons became available for viewing. A new building was built for the National Pinakothek, next to the university.

On the basis of the collection of paintings of the Institute of Sciences, a rich collection of masterpieces created by Reni, Carraci, Crochefissi, Rafael Santi and others was formed. The structure of the art museum includes several thematic sections located in separate rooms. The main artistic value of the Pinakothek is the collection of Italian icons.

Attraction address: Via delle Belle Arti, 56. Opening hours from 9 am to 19 pm.

Opera House Komunale

The first opera performed in the hall of the Public Theater when it opened in May 1763 was the Triumph of Clelia by the composer Gluck. Later, the works of Rossini, Bellini, Wagner, Verdi began to sound in the theater constantly, making him world famous. Interestingly, the usual horseshoe-shaped auditorium did not appear here immediately. At first it looked like an original dome. The theater is in the center. Antonio Galli was the architect of the beautiful building (an example of 18th century architecture).

For several centuries, the theater has preserved the traditions of classical opera art. It is still one of the most important opera stages in Europe. In one theatrical season (from November to April), about 80 opera performances and more than 300 symphony concerts are presented here. The prestige and fame of the theater were born thanks to the long-term work of the famous conductor Toscanini.

The address of the Comunale Opera House is Via Ottorino Respighi, 1. Tickets for visiting must be booked in advance.

Salabors Library

It seems that ancient Bologna is filled with the voices of students, the rustle of pages of mysterious books. Large and small libraries have always been here.Books were collected, kept in the walls of ancient monasteries, cathedrals, in private collections of wealthy families in Italy. A continuation of these traditions was the opening of the Salabors City Multimedia Library in 2001. In one modern complex, the wealth of different eras has been combined, accessible to any person.

Even the smallest visitors (perhaps in wheelchairs) can become happy users of the national treasure. They have a separate entrance to the Library's Main Hall. Convenient workplaces, searching for the necessary information, using the Internet, relaxing in cozy cafes attract local residents and visitors here. Interesting literary evenings, meetings with poets and writers are often organized in the cafe. There are halls where schoolchildren can learn their lessons, listen to music.

The library is housed in the Palace of Accursio (formerly the exchange hall). Address: Piazza del Nettune, 3.

Santo Stefano

The architectural complex, consisting of four surviving churches, is the idea of ​​Bishop Petronius to revive the holy places. At this place in ancient times there was a pagan temple of the goddess Isis. The ensemble was named "Seven Churches". After a series of unsuccessful restorations, the following churches have survived:

• Church of the Crucifixion of the Lord. In the center of the Romanesque building is the Pilate's Hall with a crucifix, created by the sculptor Crochifissi in 1380. The walls are decorated with frescoes of their life of St. Stephen.
• Church of Saints Vitaly, Agricola. The name of the church is given in honor of the martyrs from Bologna (it was originally consecrated in honor of St. Peter).



• Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the center of the octagonal building with a dome, standing on 7 marble and 5 brick columns, there is a holy spring, which was active during the time of the Temple of Isis. The ancient columns represent the surviving elements of the Roman era. One of them symbolizes the place where Christ was scourged.
• Trinity Church. Saints Vitaly and Agricola were once buried here. The main property of the church is the sculptural composition "Adoration of the Magi".

Attraction address: Piazza Stefano. Open from 9 am to 8.30 pm.

Madonna di San Luca

Not far from the historic center of the city, on the Sentry Hill, is the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca. The image of the Virgin Mary and Child, created by Saint Luke, is kept in this church. For many hundreds of years it has been an element of pilgrimage for numerous believers in Italy and other countries. There is a legend about how in the 12th century a hermit brought the icon to this place, where the foundations of the first church in the region were laid. Many interesting deeds that saved the city are associated with the help of the Virgin Mary.

The sanctuary where it was kept became known as a national monument in 1874. To enter this holy place, one must use a passage through a long, covered gallery called a portico, along which 15 chapels are built. The longest passage in the world begins (its length is 3.5 km, it consists of 666 arches) for the procession of believers from the church of St. Petronius through the Saragozza gate. The number of arches is associated with the myth that the devil was crushed by the foot of the Virgin Mary.

Basilica of San Petronio

The city's main church is considered the fifth largest church in the world. It is named after the saint Bishop Petronio, who lived in Bolnier in the 5th century. The dimensions of the church (132 m long, 60 m wide, 52 m high) can accommodate 28 thousand people. Construction of the building under the direction of the architect Antonio Vicenzo began in 1390. It lasted for several centuries. Music has always played an important role in the city. The activities of the church also reflected this aspect of the center of musical life.

The first musical instruments for the church appeared here in the 17th century. The melodies of two amazing ancient organs still sound within the walls of the ancient basilica. The church housed the work rooms of the medieval astronomer Cassini. Now you can see the longest meridional sundial line in the world. Due to its location, the most accurate measurements of the past were carried out here.

Reconstructions, building additions took place in the church in modern times. In 1954, the majestic Cathedral was consecrated. The relics of St. Petronio from the Basilica of Santo Stefano were transferred to it. Just like in 1530, when the coronation of Charles V took place here, or the burial of Napoleon's sister in the 19th century, the basilica is the decoration of the city, its main iconic place. Church address: Piazza Maggiore.

Basilica of San Domenico

There are churches in honor of St. Domenic in many places on the planet. But it all started from this place of Bologna, where the preacher Domenic Guzman came back in 1218. The small church of Mascarella could not accommodate a large number of believers who come to hear revelations and sermons. Having moved to the church of San Nicolo, which stood on the outskirts of the city, Domenica soon died and was buried in it. In its place, a huge church gradually grew, named after the holy preacher.

The main chapel of the basilica was the chapel of Domenicus. The remains of the Saint are kept under its very dome. The square in front of the basilica is decorated with his sculpture. Famous masters of Italy worked on the design of the facade, internal halls, and the bell tower. Mozart performed his immortal works on the ancient organ. The address of the basilica: Piazza S. Domenico, 13. You can visit the basilica taking into account the passage of church events.

Cathedral of Saint Peter

The decision to build the cathedral was made in 1184 on the site of the burnt down church of early Christianity. The facade of the consecrated cathedral is decorated with two large figures of the apostles Peter, Paul. The majestic bell tower of the cathedral was erected nearby. The status of the metropolitan church was received in 1582. The interior of the cathedral is made in the Baroque style. Among the elements of decoration, the sculptural groups "The Crucifixion with the Mother of God and John the Theologian" (made of wood) and "Lamentation of Christ" by Albonso Lombardi (about 1527) are of great value.

The bowls with the saint are supported by marble lions that have survived from the 12th century. There are four bells in the cathedral, for which original methods of ringing were invented. It is run by 23 bell ringer. The cathedral contains a unique treasury. This is a museum with objects of worship from the 15th-20th centuries. Cathedral address: Via Independenza, 7. Open daily from 9 am to 8 pm. Free admission. During the passage of services, tourists are not allowed to visit.

Certosa cemetery

Walking through the old cemetery, you can discover many interesting facts about the life of people of different classes, who created the history of the place. The Certosa Cemetery has long become an open-air museum, creating a special atmosphere, introducing interesting architectural monuments standing over the graves. Moreover, archaeological excavations have confirmed the existence of an ancient Etruscan cemetery here. All together this is a powerful energy of the history of the city and the people.

The structure of the cemetery, founded on the outskirts of the city in 1801, is made with numerous arcades, sculptural monuments, extravagant monuments, family crypts, private chapels created by famous masters. Now it is the most famous cemetery in Europe. There is a columbarium, a Jewish cemetery, a mass grave of those killed in the battles of the World War. This is a unique architectural and artistic ensemble. Many famous politicians, artists, laureates of various awards are buried here. Byron, Stendhal, Dickens and other famous names walked along it.

Attraction address: Via della Certosa, 18.

Margarita Gardens

This park was designed by Count Sambuye. The customer was the city council. The work was carried out in record time (everything took about 2 months), and then the municipality approved the project. The city bought the land from the wealthy latifundist Tattini to implement the idea of ​​Count Sambuyer.

The park received its first visitors 5 years after the start of the design. And the first name (Passage of Margarita) he received in honor of Queen Margaret, wife of Umberto 1. By the way, it was this talented lady who participated in the creation of the pizza recipe, also named after her.

Margarita's Gardens is a place where you can get acquainted with the ancient finds discovered during the work:

1. The most famous is the Etruscan necropolis. The time of its appearance is 6-5 centuries BC. Excavations were carried out successively by Gozzani and Brizio. The most valuable find is sandstone steles, which show the stages of a person's journey to the land of the dead.
2. The Villan hut has been reconstructed to provide visitors with an idea of ​​the life of the people of that era.
3. There is a cobblestone pavement in front of the Castiglione gate. True, it was discovered outside the garden, and transported here on purpose.

Today the gardens are not just for walking. Here, citizens who are tired of the monotonous everyday life of the city can get closer to nature. The organizers have created greenhouses where anyone can try themselves as a gardener and grow vegetables or herbs.

Basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi

This temple was built for the Servites in the 14th century. Customers - the order of the Virgin Mary. The author and original executor of the project is Andrea da Faenza. But the architect failed to complete his ideas, so another architect finished work in the 15th century. The facade of the basilica is quite simple: the walls are made of bricks, there is no plaster. And the church itself is quite small: 100x20m. The cross section resembles a Catholic cross.

But inside it is a masterpiece:

1. Here are preserved murals of Vitale da Bologna, dated to the 14th century.
2. And the altar was made of marble by Montorsoli himself, who was called Michelangelo Montorsoli.
3. The face of the Virgin Mary on the throne was sculpted by Cimabue
4. An old organ still plays in the basilica. Connoisseurs consider it to be the best in Europe.

The courtyard of the temple, built in the 16th century, occupied all the free territories around. The vestibule consists of 5 arches. The courtyard is very beautiful in December: there is a Christmas market organized by the church council. Tourists can buy souvenirs, toys and sweets. Gingerbread cookies and Christmas tree decorations are hand-painted. Donations are collected for the poor townspeople.

International Museum of Music

This center has contributed to the fact that Bologna is included in the UNESCO catalog as a city of music. It contains unique documents that describe not only how to play old instruments, but also the possibilities of restoration. It is these sources that have helped some instruments retain their appearance and musicality.

Visitors can see:

• polyphonic flute (it has as many as 5 pipes)
• 125-key harpsichord
• original score of the Barber of Seville
• notes of Eurydice (the first opera), which was performed at the wedding of Henry II and the Medici
• the first printed score performed on a machine by Ottavian Petrucci

The collection is based on the Martini collection. Giovanni Battista is a monk, composer and music historian. The most famous composers of the era: Bach, Handel, Gluck, sent their portraits to Martini. They considered it an honor to have their images in Martini's collection. By the way, Giovanni Battista helped Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart prepare for the exam. In gratitude for this, Mozart's father sent a portrait of his son.

The Martini collection contains a version of the examination paper by the young Mozart with corrections by Martini. The museum is located in the former Sanguinetti Palace, built in the 16th century. The interiors were created by Palaggi, Barozzi, Martinelli and Basoli.

San Giacomo Maggiore

Monks of the Order of St. Augustine organized the monastery in the first half of the 13th century. And soon the church of San Giacomo Maggiore was built. It has survived to this day. The monastery flourished: it was helped by the support of the noblest and richest families of the city. The interiors of the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore by the famous Francia, Costa and Aspertini have survived to this day.

Then the time of oblivion began: this was the result of the wars waged by Napoleon Bonaparte. The monastery was closed, and some of the premises became the property of the Conservatory. But some of the outbuildings were preserved at the church. Chaplains continued to serve in the temple. In the 16th century, the church of San Giacomo Maggiore required reconstruction: the building was damaged by lightning. But subsequent alterations: replacing the original windows with large square ones, adding plaster vases to the interior, plastering the walls, turned out to be unsuccessful.

As a result, the original interiors were lost. Tourists can also explore the Bentivoglio Chapel. Anton Galeazzo Bentivoglio was once buried here, and then turned into a family crypt. The room has a separate dome and the interiors are painted by Costa. Here are unique bas-reliefs and sculptures that Francia worked on.

Basilica of San Francesco

This is a functioning temple belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. It began to be built in 1236 and finished more than 100 years later. The work was supervised (at a certain stage) by Pope Innocent 4. And everything was supervised first by Brescia, and then by Fra Giovanni. Remains of early buildings were used as a foundation.

The stone walls are not decorated with marble slabs: this is how the traditions of the orders of mendicant monks are observed. The interior layout resembles the layout of Notre dame de Paris. The altar of marble, the author of which is Jacobello and Mazenier, has survived. At the end of the 18th century, persecution of monasteries began. To protect the basilica, it was handed over to civilian departments: the barracks were located here, then the customs office. But in the middle of the 19th century it was returned to the church.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Franciscan order restored the cathedral. During World War II, the basilica was damaged by bombing. But after its release, it was restored again. Today, tourists can explore the majestic cathedral inside and out, admire the original interiors and appreciate the whimsical mixture of Romanesque, Gothic and early Renaissance styles.

Ducati Museum

In 1926, the Ducati brothers decided to open a small business. It was planned to produce spare parts for radio receivers. But life has made adjustments: the plant began to design and manufacture sports motorcycles and bicycles. The business was so successful that the family decided to create an exhibition. It presents author's models and replicas of models that have won tournaments. The opening took place in 2016, but for a narrow circle of people - participants in the company's annual week. Regular visitors were able to see the models only in September.

A separate stand is dedicated to the designers who created the models and the riders who tested the models. Drawings, working documents are on display. Tourists got access to production: visits to several workshops are open. And next to the exposition, a pavilion was built, where there is a cafe, a souvenir shop, and you can leave outerwear in the wardrobe.

Giorgio Morandi Museum

The sister of the famous graphic artist, Maria Teresa Morandi, helped to organize the exhibition. She made a generous donation. From 1993 to 2001, the center was headed by Marilena Pasquale. It was the heyday of the museum.
After Marilena left the post of director, the collection was divided into 3 parts. One remained in the same place, the second moved to the Museum of Modern Art. The third one became part of an exhibition in the artist's house-museum.

This affected the perception of Morandi's work by visitors. The unification and return of the collection was helped by the elements: after the devastating earthquake in 2012, it became difficult to select intact buildings for the exhibition. The work was again under the same roof. The permanent exhibition presents 85 of the 214 works in the center.

Works are grouped by topic:

1. Landscapes.
2. The poetics of the object. Morandi wrote these works as an established person.Giorgio's last still life is exhibited in the room.
3. Engraving. This room displays the paintings that made Morandi famous.
4. Time and composition. The section shows the skill of the master to convey the atmosphere through the selection of parts of objects.
5. Out of the genre. Here are exhibited paintings that are not usual for Morandi.

On a special stand there is information about where and when Morandi's expositions were held.

Montagnola Gardens

For the first park of Bologna, a 60-meter artificial hill was adapted, which was poured in for the construction of the palace. The first holidaymakers started walking in 1662. Instead of wild-growing trees, decorative ones were planted, flower beds were laid out and paths were designed. Couples and young people walked here, carriages rode. It has become a tradition to hold meetings in a cozy garden.

In the future, the park was landscaped:

• benches were installed (7 of them means that the garden belongs to the people)
• a pond was dug, which was decorated with sculptures by Diego Sarti
• a marble staircase leads from the park to the central street
• the stairs were decorated with lanterns
• part of the territory was converted into an English park
• at the foot of the hill there is a sculpture - a monument to the People

Unfortunately, today the state of the Montagnola Park saddens tourists. The pond is drained, and the marvelous statues are covered with a net. The marble staircase attracts outcasts in the evening and at night. Tracks are lit occasionally.
But in the park there are centuries-old trees, a playground, and a kindergarten for kids. Dog owners take their pets for a walk in an equipped place. The townspeople willingly spend hot days here.

Saragozza gate

This is all that remains of the fortress wall that encircled the city in the 13th century. In the 17th century, the gallery, which was supposed to connect the entrance with the storage place of the icon of the Virgin Mary. The icon was painted by the Evangelist Luke. After the construction was completed, pilgrims began to call the gate of Saragozza the Holy Gate. In the 19th century, the building was reconstructed by architects Rodatti and Mengoni.

They widened the passage (it became possible to pass through the gate with modern transport), added round turrets and a portico. Soon a horse trail passed through the renewed passage, connecting Bologna, Casalecchio and Vignola. But today the gates of Saragozza are also famous for the fact that the headquarters of the informal society was located here. In 1912, the city's gay pride parade started from here.

Sights of Bologna on the map