Most of the dishes known around the world as typically Italian are, in fact, from Bologna: pasta al ragł, or Bolognese, is probably the most famous. Don't miss the wide variety of cured pork meats (such as prosciutto, salami and the local mortadella), tortellini and lasagna, accompanied by Lambrusco wines from the region.

With over 38km of porticoes in the historic centre alone, this city is an emblem of renaissance and baroque architecture. Bologna has many beautiful piazzas, but perhaps two stand out the most: Piazza Maggiore, with the San Petronio Basilica and City Hall, and Piazza Nettuno, with the famous Fountain of Neptune at its centre.

The city's cultural and historical heritage can be admired in the many museums within its walls. These include the Archaeological Museum, the Medieval Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the Museum of the Risorgimento.

Founded in 1088, it's the oldest university in the Western world, teaching over 100,000 students in its 23 centres. You can have a peek into this institution, which has many buildings within the city, such as the Botanical Gardens, the Royal Spanish College and the Church of San Procolo.

The two towers, the Torre degli Asinelli and Torre dei Garisenda, were built in the 12th century, are the symbols of the city and can be climbed for a small fee. But watch out, the Torre degli Asinelli has almost 500 steps!