Archiginnasio
The Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio is the oldest building of the University of Bologna (the oldest university in the Western world, founded 1088). Free to enter the courtyard and library.
Monument in Bologna
Neptune Fountain
The Fontana del Nettuno (Neptune Fountain) is a monumental 16th-century bronze fountain by Giambologna on the Piazza del Nettuno, adjacent to Piazza Maggiore. Free. The muscular Neptune figure surrounded by mermaids, dolphins, and putti is one of the most famous Renaissance fountains in Italy and a symbol of Bologna. Budget travelers photograph the fountain from the piazza and see why Bologna’s emblem is a trident-wielding sea god in a landlocked city.
Practical
Before you go
- Address
- Avenue Van Praet - Van Praetlaan, 1020 Brussels
- Good to know
Nearby
More in Bologna
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Biblioteca Salaborsa
The Biblioteca Salaborsa is Bologna's central library in the Palazzo d'Accursio on Piazza Maggiore, with a glass floor revealing Roman archaeological ruins in the basement below. Free.
Mercato delle Erbe
Mercato delle Erbe is Bologna's covered food market, a mix of traditional produce stalls and modern food counters. Free to enter.
Piazza Maggiore
Piazza Maggiore is the central square of Bologna, surrounded by the Basilica di San Petronio (one of the largest churches in Italy, free to enter), the Palazzo d'Accursio, and the Palazzo del Podesta. Free.
Portico Walk to San Luca
The Portico of San Luca is the longest covered arcade in the world, stretching 3.8 kilometers from the Saragozza gate uphill to the Sanctuary of San Luca. Free.
Quadrilatero
The Quadrilatero is the medieval market district east of Piazza Maggiore, a grid of narrow streets lined with food shops, delis, and fresh produce stands that have been trading here since the Middle Ages. Free to walk.
Working out what Bologna costs?
The whole of Bologna