A globetrotter’s Paradise!

It is often said that life is short. So, one must take the trip, eat the cake and buy the shoes. 2019, seemed quite like the year to satiate my dormant love for wanderlust. A trip to central and Northern Italy just fell into place. And Bologna was on the list too.

For those wanting to discover Italy in all its pristine, old-world glory; a visit to the Emilia-Romagna region is a must. Bologna is the historic capital of Emilia-Romagna. There’s a strong European old world charm to this city, which is also the largest city in Emilia Romagna.

A short train journey from Modena is all it takes to reach the Capital.

Italian folks hold their culture and dialect in high regard, so one must never assume that English is a language that’s welcome. This side of town isn’t for the Instagram Traveller. But rather, this place is for those who have an eye for vintage. For those, who’d like to see life in a different light— way different from the screen-lit bustle. While it’s always a nice idea to keep a bucket list in handy, I’d suggest going with your instinct and exploring every nook and corner of this spectacularly charming city with just an internal guide.

Not sure why, but on multiple instances, I got a very middle eastern vibe. Simply put, one does have a lot to do in Bologna. But, it’s clearly not the usual. One must do the classic Bologna tour, which entails a trip around the markets and food shops, sampling olive oil, and aged balsamic vinegar and understanding local products. If you’re someone who takes their grub seriously and yet likes to experiment, this city won’t disappoint. By the way, Spaghetti Bolognese is not actually an Italian dish. The pizzas are a must have (which goes without saying). But, you needn’t check in at a popular café to sink your teeth into these Italian delicacies. Humble cafeterias that offer takeaways are also really good at putting their act together. Even the bakery-brought croissants are melt in the mouth and have a distinct flavour of its own.  

The locals consider Tagliatelle al Ragu as their staple. Tagliatelle are thick strips of fresh egg pasta with a meat sauce. Another classic local dish is tortellini,  which is meat-stuffed pasta dumplings typically served in a broth.

The must-visits of the place, however, include Piazza Maggiore— this is quite an architectural wonder, and technically a plaza lined with arched colonnades, cafes along with medieval and Renaissance structures such as City Hall, the Fountain of Neptune and the Basilica di San Petronio. The structures haven’t undergone major renovation and we all know why. One of my biggest takeaways from the trip was the realisation that being proud of your original self and not getting bogged down by fleeting fads and current trends have a beauty of its own.

Among the city’s many medieval towers are the Two Towers, leaning Asinelli and Garisenda. These towers are pretty much like the unmissable highlights.