By Andrew Thompson
Bologna, Italy still sails slightly below the radar when it comes to travels in Italy, which is hardly surprising when you consider the giants of the country’s tourism industry. Although the city may not have the canals of Venice, the vast ruins of Rome, the loveable chaos of Naples, or the artistic clout of Florence, travellers who overlook Bologna are missing out. There is a surprisingly long list of things to do in Bologna, and the Bologna weather is also particularly agreeable, particularly in the summer months when it’s possible to have up to ten hours of sunshine and average highs well into the 20s. Many also consider Bologna’s food to be among the best in Italy, with a range of pastas and gelatos that can rival the best in the country. All that aside, the city is also home to several famous Bologna churches, including the Sanctuary of the Madonna Di San Luca and San Petronio Basilica, the tenth largest in the world, and the centuries-old gathering point of Piazza Maggiore. Although the question ‘is Bologna worth visiting?’ is a common one, it’s a surprisingly easy one to answer - it’s not if the city is worth but when is it worth visiting! And the best place to start when planning a trip to Bologna, Italy, is to make sure you go at a time that best suits what you’re looking for in a city break.