Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy. It is often ranked as one of Italy's finest cities. The city is rich in history, culture, and tradition. An authentic Italian working city, Bologna offers its visitors, both those who come for business and those who come for pleasure, a variety of ways to relax, work and play.
History and Demographics
Knowing basic history and the city's demographics is helpful for business travelers, because it gives them a better understanding of the city and its people and customs. Founded by the Etruscans with the name of Felsina in 534 BC, Bologna has a history rich in tradition and culture. The growth of the city from an area surrounded by a necropolis to a bustling thriving city can be seen in the way the city is laid out today. The city has seen the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the battles of prominent families, and the Black Plague. In the 15th century, it was a flourishing Mecca for prominent painters and architects who made Bologna a true city of art. Many of these artists left their marks on the city that you can still see today. During this time, it was also the only Italian city to allow women to excel in any profession. Although damaged during the closing battles of World War II, Bologna has recovered to become one of Italy's richest, most civilized, and well-planned cities.
Bologna and its metropolitan area combined have a resident population of about 940,000 people. About 95% of the inhabitants are ethnic Italians. Many have lived in Bologna for generations. Romanians, Albanians, and Ukrainians make up a large portion of the immigrant population, followed by North Africa Arabs. In recent years, there has been a growing Asian population that is mostly Filipino.
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Culture
History has had an impact on its culture. The nicknames "the learned one" (la dotta) refers to the university, while "the fat one" (la grassa) refers to cuisine. "The red one" often refers to the color of the roofs in the historic district; however, it is also linked to the political situation of the city. Until 1999 the city supported both socialism and communism. Bologna became one of the first European cities to experiment with public transportation. Another nickname for the city is the "Basket City," which refers to Bologna's obsession with basketball. In football-dominated Italy, this sets Bologna apart in yet another way. However, football is still a popular sport there as well.
In Bologna you will find many wonderful places to shop, but to find certain items you may have to search various shops. Storekeepers are friendly and helpful, but they take their stores seriously. It is important that you make sure a storekeeper will allow you to touch items before you buy them; some will make you buy things you touch. Follow their lead and you will be ok.
Music is a live component of Bolognese culture. It is world recognized for its commitment to promote music in battling racism, and encouraging social and economic development. In professional, academic, and social aspects, live music is an important source of life and comfort.
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Getting To Bologna
Guglielmo Marconi (Bologna) International Airport is the closest arirport to Bologna. The airport has many international airlines that service travelers from around the world. Located a few minutes northwest from the city center, the airport is ideal for business travelers who choose to use the airport to make their way into Bologna. A taxi service, as well as a special busline known as the Aerobus, can easily take business travelers to their destinations throughout Bologna and its surrounding areas. Using the Aerobus is about 5 Euros, while a taxi ride to the center of town is about 15 Euros. Another flight option is to use Ryanair out of Forli. The longer taxi ride at about 80 Euros or using the railway is something to consider if you choose to fly into Forli to get to Bologna.
Another option to get into Bologna is via Bologna Central Station. Because of its central location and geography, Bologna has become a railway hub for Northern Italy. Using the Eurostar schedules (Italian high speed trains), the Bologna railway system is well connected to other Italian railway hubs such as Milan (1.46 hour ride), Rome (2.45 hours), Florence (1 hour), and Venice (2 hours). For business travelers who need to fly into one Italian city and do business in Bologna for the day, using the Bologna railway is a great option.
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Layout of Bologna
The best way to understand the layout of the city of Bologna is to get a map of the city. The Tourist Information Center in Piazza Maggiore offers visitors free maps. The first thing you do to begin understanding how the city is laid out is to find the Due Torri landmark which is located in the center of the free map. If you look around the area of the Due Torri, you will be able to note a circular road that surrounds the center of town. This is known as the Viali. It is sort of a wheel that leads to other areas of Bologna. Now divide your map into 4 quadrants. You will notice the airport in the northwest quadrant of the city. The northeast quadrant is the university district. It is integrated into the city and offers tourists, students, and residents an array of cultural, educational, and entertainment opportunities. In continuing to look at the city map, the two southern quadrants are residential areas of the city. This is not considered a tourist area of Bologna. If you walk south out of the city center, you will come upon hills. You will find the city's largest park, the Giardini Margherita. It is a peaceful place to relax and spend an afternoon.
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Getting Around in Bologna
You can choose to rent a car to get around Bologna. Although it is a medium sized city, Bologna is no stranger to traffic problems, particularly in the center of the city. To deal with this problem, the city government has set forth measures to help deter traffic by blocking all traffic on Saturday afternoons and on Sundays. Some days they add measures as needed, so it is important to keep up on the daily traffic situation in order to avoid fines or any interruptions to your plans. You can get traffic pattern updates online, or ask your hotel front desk for information. Another way to get around is to use public transportation. The ATC public transport of Bologna offers buses that make frequent stops throughout the day as well as special lines that run at night. You can find maps and schedules online and at various tourist booths and hotels throughout the city. Car services and taxis are another way to get around the city. They cost more than a bus, but they can get you to your destination, as well. Some people opt to rent bikes or scooters to get around the city. These modes of transportation allow some flexibility, and allow you to get more a feel of the city as you ride through the streets of Bologna.
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Lodging in Bologna
Business travelers have a wide variety of accommodations to choose from when it comes to finding places to stay in Bologna. Whether you need a quiet place to do your work, you want a more home-like atmosphere, or you want to be in the hub of city life, you can find a place to stay that meets your needs. Many Bologna hotels in the city center are 4 star hotels. These elegant and often tranquil hotels give their guests the luxury they are seeking in a hotel. Guests are treated to fine dining, full concierge services including laundry services, luxury accommodations, and much more. Business travelers can use fax machines, wireless Internet, or even the conference rooms to conduct their business. Several offer balconies that show panoramic views of Bologna, giving guests a beautiful way to relax after a long day of work. For some business travelers, staying in a quieter area of Bologna is more ideal. Several hotels on the outskirts of Bologna offer a quiet atmosphere complete with a restaurant, pools, and great service. They tend to be cheaper as they are away from the busy part of Bologna, but getting transportation to them is a must. For those travelers who prefer a more homelike place or need more room for meetings, several hotels offer apartments. They are clean and discreet; however, it is necessary to have a car to get to many of these types of hotels.
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Dining
Bologna is known for its heritage of gourmet food and wine. The local passion of good food is passed down to the visitors of Bologna. It is practically impossible to find a poor meal since the Bolognese take great pride in their food. They use locally produced ingredients for their dishes, giving their cuisine a unique taste. One way to find out the best restaurants for a full Bologna dining experience is to ask the locals where they like to dine. They love their food and are happy to share where visitors can find good tasting Bologna cuisine. Tortellini stuffed with a variety of fillings such as meat, prosciutto, Parmesan, and mortadella, as well as egg pastas such as tagliatelle and lasagna, are a local favorite. Pork is the meat of choice in Bologna, but boiled meats and roasts such as stracotto di manzo (beef stew) are popular as well. Bologna residents love cold cuts, cheeses, and bread made from real lard. Cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, the soft cheese squaccherone, and cold cuts such as mortadella are a favorite simple yet tasteful meal. Local wines are a treasure, and there are many pubs and bars to sit in and enjoy a drink to unwind. Prices for meals tend to be slightly lower on the outskirts of town, while those closer to the center of town are more expensive.
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Sightseeing
Bologna has a variety of museums, parks, landmarks, and local music spots to explore. Some museums exhibit items from a specific region, while others display items from an era. Some are large, while others such as those located by the universities are smaller. You can purchase a museum card for one to three days that will allow you free access to Bologna's main museums and discounts to others. Parks both big and small can be found throughout the city. Many local parks were once private gardens of people of nobility. Some host art exhibits or music festivals in the summertime.
When in Bologna, take advantage of seeing some of the city's many beautiful landmarks. Rich in history, art, and architecture, Palazzo Comunale is Bologna's city hall. I Portici (The Arcades) offer a serene walk under beautiful typical arcades. St Luke's Basilica offers a panoramic view of Bologna. You can opt to use a guided bus tour or a walking tour to navigate your way to various landmarks.
Music is rich and alive throughout Bologna. Many pubs and parks host music contests and concerts from rock to jazz to disco. There are almost a hundred concerts every year by international bands. You will find many of these places outside the town center; however, you may find the trip away from the center of town is worth it to experience a concert.
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Business and Industry
Bologna is considered more a working city rather than a tourist spot. However, more and more people are coming to see this gem of a city each year. While demographically it would not seem that a city of about 400,000 inhabitants could be seen as an important industrial, trade, political, and economic arena, Bologna stands out as one of Italy's finest cities. Being that Bologna is a very important railway and motorway hub in Italy, it is an ideal place for business. Bologna has several important industries in the fields of mechanics, foods, and electronics as well as retail and wholesale trade. The city's district of Fiera is considered the exhibition area. It is the second largest in Italy and the fourth largest in Europe and holds such exhibitions as the Motorshow (car show), Cosmoprof, (beauty culture), and Lineapelle. Companies such as Lamborghini, Maserati, and Regazzi hold fort in Bologna. The monuments, museums, and rich cultural life are an important part of Bologna's industry as well.
Bologna boasts the oldest existing university in Europe, the University of Bologna. The University has 23 faculties, 68 departments, and 93 libraries spread across the city. Universities and colleges from around the world participate in Erasmus exchange programs with the University of Bologna. When classes are in session, the population of the city swells to about 500,000.
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