What to See in Bologna: From Piazza Maggiore to San Luca

Visiting Bologna is always a memorable experience for first-timers, thanks to its wealth of monuments and attractions concentrated within the city. This guide will help you plan your trip so you can easily decide what to see and do in Bologna.

Things to Do in Bologna: Itineraries and Places to Visit

There are countless must-see attractions in Bologna we recommend. Even if you’re short on time, this guide will help you decide what to visit in Bologna in one day without missing the highlights.

What to See in Bologna: Top Sights

1 Piazza Maggiore

Piazza Maggiore is the heart of Bologna. Always bustling, it’s surrounded by architectural gems like the unfinished facade of Basilica di San Petronio, the Art Nouveau-inspired Sala Borsa housing an innovative multimedia library, and impressive medieval and Renaissance palaces including Palazzo Re Enzo. The piazza serves as the city’s main gathering spot and was once the center of political life. Also located here is the Palazzo Comunale, recognizable by the statue of Pope Gregory VIII above the main entrance. Inside, don’t miss the fascinating Sala Farnese.

2 The Two Towers: Garisenda and Asinelli

Symbols of Bologna recognized worldwide, these two towers sit at the city’s gateway on Via Emilia. A definite addition to your “top things to see in Bologna” list.

3 Fontana del Nettuno

The Fountain of Neptune, created by Giambologna, stands in Piazza del Nettuno between the City Hall and Palazzo del Podestà. It’s regarded as one of the most striking fountains of the 16th century.

4 The Porticoes of Bologna

One of Bologna’s unique features is its porticoes, stretching for nearly 40 km—a record in Italy and perhaps globally—originating from medieval times and the establishment of the university. Under the elegant Pavaglione portico, just steps from Piazza Maggiore, luxury silk trading once took place; the portico of Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Servi impresses with its restored beauty, while the long covered walkway up the San Luca hill rewards you for your climb with stunning views.

Churches in Bologna: Basilicas and Monasteries Not to Miss

5 Basilica di San Petronio

The Basilica di San Petronio remains unfinished, as it was originally designed to rival St. Peter’s Basilica in size. Still, it’s the sixth largest church in Europe and a centerpiece of the Christian community.

6 Basilica di San Domenico

The Basilica di San Domenico, dating to the 13th century, houses several notable works by Michelangelo.

7 Sanctuary of San Luca

The Sanctuary of San Luca, also known as the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, rises on Colle della Guardia and is visible from almost everywhere in Bologna. This magnificent church is one of the city’s most captivating sanctuaries, along with Chiesa di San Giacomo Maggiore and Basilica di Santo Stefano. You can reach it via a particularly scenic porticoed walkway leading up San Luca hill.

8 Basilica di Santo Stefano

Not far from the Garisenda and Asinelli towers, and also accessible from picturesque Corte Isolani, is the Basilica di Santo Stefano, often called the “Seven Churches.” In reality, four churches remain, closely connected and built between the 4th and 19th centuries. The impressive Romanesque cloister is a must-see.

9 San Colombano

San Colombano is a church complex comprising a series of buildings constructed over the centuries, starting from the 7th century. Recent restorations uncovered a 13th-century mural Crucifixion attributed to Giunta Pisano, a medieval crypt, and a 13th-century burial. Since its opening on June 21, 2010, the complex houses the collection of ancient musical instruments donated by Maestro Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, featuring about ninety pieces such as harpsichords, spinets, clavichords, and a selection of wind and folk instruments from the 16th to 19th centuries. It also preserves a specialized library belonging to Bologna musicologist Oscar Mischiati.

10 Chiesa di Santa Cristina della Fondazza

The current Chiesa di Santa Cristina della Fondazza was built in 1602 by Giulio della Torre, an architect from Domenico Tibaldi’s circle. The single-nave interior stands out for its narrow presbytery, creating an acoustic “resonance box” that transforms Santa Cristina into a kind of musical instrument, where sound carries with remarkable clarity. This unique feature led to the legend of the “singing nuns”: in a room behind the apse, nuns would sing out of view, and their voices, carried through two grilles above the main altar, filled the church without echo or distortion. The church was repeatedly closed and reopened, especially during the Napoleonic era and after Italian unification, when it was used as a military warehouse and the convent became barracks. Following years of restoration, it reopened to the public in 2008 as a concert hall for classical music and Gregorian chant.

11 Cappella di Santa Maria dei Carcerati in Palazzo Re Enzo

Inside the restored Cappella di Santa Maria dei Carcerati, built in 1371 at the request of Papal Vicar Anglico de Grimoard to provide spiritual comfort for prisoners in the nearby Palazzo del Capitano, British artist David Tremlett has created an acclaimed wall drawing. His work bridges the region’s artistic history and contemporary abstraction—characteristic of many local projects. David Tremlett, a sculptor, “sculpts” with colors, massaging pigments onto walls to create abstract, emotionally charged forms in harmony with each space’s architecture.