Day 3: WHAT TO SEE IN BOLOGNA
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Today, although we have a very complete day of our travel to Italia, we get up at 7.30 in the morning, with the idea of going down to breakfast about 8.30 and start visiting things what to see in Bologna at 9.
Yes, we are on vacation, but things have to be planned a little bit 🙂
As soon as we get up we look out the window of the Hotel Nuovo Porto and we see that although it is not sunny, it does not seem to rain and the forecasts are also those ... hopefully hold on!
As we had planned, at 9 in the morning we went out the hotel door to what will be our first stop of the day: The Bologna Window.
More practical information to prepare your trip to Bologna
- 10 essential places to visit in Bologna
It is one of the visits that we had not scheduled, but we have seen in the plane as optional and since it is close, why not go see it?
After several laps to try to locate ourselves on the street where it is, finally, just in front of where we are, we see a small square on the wall, which represents that window ...
After this, we continue traveling Bologna with the eyes of children, with that curiosity that the cities of which you did not expect too much give and they show themselves in all their splendor.
After a while walking, we head to the famous towers of Bologna. The Asinelli Tower and the Garisenda Tower, which look out from many of the city's streets, haughty, waiting for you to visit them. Without a doubt, one of the best things to see in Bologna.
Almost without realizing we are approaching the Towers. The Bologna historic center It is small and can be easily explored in a single day.
At first it seems that it is much larger, but as you move it is clear that it is the other way around, everything is "a stone's throw."
I am quite clear that I will not climb the almost 500 steps that separate the floor from the highest part of the Asinelli Tower, but Roger is very clear that he will climb them, even if he still has a full stomach for breakfast ...
Pay the 3 euros for the entrance and there it goes ...
In the meantime, to distract me, I enter the store that they have right on the first floor of the Tower, which has windows that only by seeing them awaken the materialistic instinct that was off.
And as usual, I just itched!
Meanwhile, Roger is climbing to the top of the Asinelli Tower, to go down show me some photos that only see them take away the meaning.
Seeing these first photos take away the desire to upload, but seeing the ones that come now, make you want to upload until you run.
Without a doubt, after seeing the photos I want to have uploaded, the views from there have to be incredible.
Although while I was waiting ... I have also done some of the Towers from other perspectives.
After Roger rests for a while in a bank and shows him the things I bought in his absence, we set off for the Abadia di Santo Stefano.
Upon arrival we see the Antique Market that we had read that they put on weekends.
But before getting lost in the market, we want to enter the Abbey one of the places what to see in Bologna more essential
It is a group of five churches, nicknamed "Holy Jerusalem", because of their relationship with the Passion of Christ.
For us this visit has a special air for the trip that awaits us in a few months.
This visit is done with great tranquility and eager to look at all the details, but time is coming, so we can do nothing more than go out in search of the shelter of the Antiques Market.
From here we go to the Church of San Domenico, which is about 15 minutes walk from the area where we are.
Moving there, we went through a kind of shopping center, but all of luxury stores.
We enter to see the atmosphere, but after 10 minutes there, we prefer the heat of the streets and the arcades of "la Gorda".
After being in the church for a while, we have to set off towards one of the areas we most want to see in the city: Il Quadrilatero. This is the belly of the city, it is the area that goes from Piazza Maggiore to the Palacio dei Banchi of Bologna.
It is an open-air market of all kinds of Italian cuisine, especially Bolognese ... what to say about this ... you better see the photos:
It is very difficult to just look in these streets, but not carrying checked bags and going just weight, we prefer not to risk buying anything.
But we are left with the desire!
We are here more than an hour touring the streets and getting lost in the shop windows.
And almost without realizing it, we went out and met the famous Zanarini coffee. And looking at the time it is and the desire we have to sit for a while on a terrace, we do not doubt much more than a minute.
We paid 8 euros for a coffee and a cappuccino ... somewhat expensive, but the site is worth it and on top we have free wifi. You have to look at the positive side.
We look at the clock and it's a little after 1 noon. We are not very hungry yet, so we go straight to Piazza Maggiore to take a walk in the light of the little sun we have today.
The atmosphere in the square never stops. The first night we arrived we saw it, but now, during daylight hours, the atmosphere has not stopped, the other way around, there are many more people.
Our stomach starts to itch, but before we go we decide to take a picture together, just in case the day doesn't just get up and it starts to rain.
We took a couple of turns looking for somewhere to eat and opted for Pizzeria La Mela, the same where we were the first day we arrived.
We eat a pizza and some Bolognese noodles with a water and a coke, all for about 28 euros.
After resting for a while and having a quiet coffee, we go for another walk around the Piazza and the surrounding area.
We want to go to the hotel to rest for a while, but at the same time, something keeps us here.
The day has cleared up a lot, so we take advantage of these last hours of light to walk and go back to the streets we have already walked this morning.
Before returning to our accommodation these days, we return for a few minutes to the Quadrilatero, we cannot leave without seeing it again 🙂
It's after 5 in the afternoon when we set off for the hotel, we've already seen many of the main places to see in Bologna.
A good option to learn more about the history and curiosities of the city is to book a guided tour in Spanish.
When we arrive we are busted, but wanting more. So about 7 in the afternoon we get dressed again to go out with the idea of having the aperitivi, when we hear thunder.
We look out the window and a good storm begins to fall that leaves us again in the room until 8 pm, we decided to go out with an umbrella.
It has stopped a little, but it is still sparkling.
We are looking for a restaurant, but we have left in the room the list of those who had recommended us.
And without thinking much more and almost without realizing it, we see that we are heading towards La Mela.
And there we stayed, eating a pizza and a plate of Tortelloni de la Casa.
When we finish it is almost 10 at night, but before we go to the hotel, we stop to eat an ice cream.
This is a good way to end the day.
BOLOGNA - GIRONA