22 October 2015 - Exploring old Bologna

Tim, Annika and I walked to our shops for early morning supplies.  We realised that bread is sold by the kilogram after thinking it was rather highly priced and then we read the label more closely!  It's funny to think about all the subtle differences even in Europe.

After morning school, Annika and I really felt like an Italian style of lunch and cooked up some risoni and tossed it with olive oil, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and cucumber.  Olives would have made it even better, and as there are heaps of olives for sale, I'll buy some soon!

Our train approaches - Roveri Station

Comfortable little trains

 We checked our local train timetable and walked to our station and took the train to Bologna Centrale.  It was a beautiful sunny and warm afternoon so perfect for walking and exploring.

Medieval ruins

Porta Galliera

Fountains emptied - the end of summer

Mura della citta (city walls)

From the main station we more or less followed our noses to the ruins of the old city walls from 14th Century and there we also found the ruins of the Castelo de Galliera, built in 1330!

Just behind these ruins there is a large set of steps leading to a leafy park, Park of Montagnola.  The marble reliefs and fountain were very lovely.  Such grandness for public places:  marble is everywhere.

Grand!

Fantastic relief 1

Fantastic relief 2

Commemorating 7 August 1848

Under the arches

Blue skies light narrow alleys

From there we wandered to the University quarter up and down little streets, under arches and porticos.  There were students milling about and people coming and going across the cobbled piazze: a sense of unhurried socialising, typical of Italians. The University of Bologna is the oldest university in Europe and comprises many buildings clustered near the two big medieval towers: The Asinelli at 97 metres and the leaning but smaller Garisenda.  There used to be many more towers in Bologna.

University quarter

It is always good to look up! La Pieta by Giovan Francesco Spini 1698  Piazza Bentivoglio

One of the University of Bologna's piazze

Flags flying

We somehow stumbled across the Museum of Evolution which is part of the Faculty of Sciences.  I went in to ask for a map of the city, which they didn't have, but the  receptionist did tell me that it was free to look around!  Luke was in his element to say the least!  The collection of stuffed animals dates back to 1800 and rivals the Natural History Museum in London on numbers of animals displayed!  The animals are looking a little forlorn and tatty being so old and all the names were in Italian, but even Annika, our least museumy member, liked it!

 

Museum of Evolution

Great parade of creatures

Luke commented that there were more animal heads than at a National Trust Property!

Toucan!

Moon fish - strange creature

Red: the typical colour of Bologna

More arches

 Another treasure we stumbled across was the Oratory of Saint Cecilia which is next to the church of San Giacomo Maggiore (St James).  The frescoed walls (1505) depict the life of St Cecilia painted by several Renaissance artists.  A friendly man gave Karl and I a detailed explanation of the paintings in a mixture of English and Italian and now we understand the significance of St Cecilia, her pagan husband who then converted to Christianity, his execution, and her martyrdom.  The Oratory holds free concerts which would be lovely to hear.

Outside the Oratory of St Ceicila - we were not permitted to take photos inside - amazing frescoes

 The back streets are a little seedy and the walls are decorated heavily with graffiti.  There are little cafes which don't look too expensive being in the university area.  I quite liked the graffiti, some of which made political statements and others just decorated.

In contrast to the old beauty of Bologna is the art work of 21st Century

Bologna must be the graffiti capital!

And to you too!

Parliament of owls happening here

Great variety of graffiti made the walk back interesting.

 We found the main street, and all its arches and it was a pleasant walk just looking windows and catching a waft of pizza.  Italy is a lot more international than I remember it, but then again I was here in 1985 last time!  Times have changed and Bologna is an international university.

Narrow streets - wouldn't want to drive here.

Garibaldi

Ornate buildings wherever you look

And arches wherever you look!

And pink/red buildings, too!

From there we walked back in the direction of the station with a brief stop at a second hand market.  We have only seen a fraction of what Bologna has to offer.  We boarded a train heading back to Roveri, which was running late (to our advantage!) and terminated at our station. Not everyone was happy about that, but it suited us fine.  The station was packed with unhappy Italians who had to file down the steps and change platforms but all we had to do is walk 300 metres and we were home, far from the madding crowd.