Bologna Historic Center: Art, History, and Secrets Tour

Embark on a private walking tour of Bologna and uncover the city’s rich history, vibrant art scene, delectable gastronomy, and intriguing secrets. Join a certified guide and experience the best of this popular tourist destination.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Piazza Maggiore - Together we will explore the heart of Bologna, Piazza Maggiore or Piazza Grande, as Lucio Dalla calls it, but for the Bolognese simply the Piazza, discovering some of the most popular “Pulcinella secrets” of the city.
  • Fontana del Nettuno - In marble and bronze, the Fountain of Neptune is the second symbol of Bologna and known by the Bolognese as Il Gigante.
    Built by the Flemish Giambologna on a project by Tommaso Laureti between 1563 and 1566 and commissioned by Pope Pius IV, it is a symbol of papal power: as Neptune dominates the waters, so the Pope dominates the world.
    At the feet of the God are in fact four putti, representing the Ganges, Nile, Amazon River and Danube, that is the rivers of the continents then known
  • Palazzo Re Enzo - Palazzo Re Enzo is a historic building located in Piazza Maggiore, built in 1244-46 as an extension of the municipal buildings.

It was so called because, during the thirteenth century it became the “residence” of King Enzo of Sardinia, a prisoner of the battle of Fossalta. The war machines were kept on the ground floor, while the sessions of the popular councils were held on the loggia on the first floor.

  • Biblioteca Salaborsa - Inaugurated in December 2001, it is today the most important cultural center of the city.
    Inside Palazzo d’Accursio, the “almost castle”, the ancient historical seat of the Municipality that overlooks Piazza Maggiore, which has always been the center and heart of Bologna, you can admire the ancient excavations and the sedimentation of the various civilizations in one scenery of harmony and light. Centuries of history thus relive, from the first settlements of huts of the Villanovan civilization of the VII century BC, to the Etruscan Felsina, to the Roman Bononia founded in 189 BC
  • Palazzo d’Accursio - Palazzo D’Accursio or Palazzo Comunale is one of the most important buildings in Bologna, the seat of the Municipality of the city since 1336.

Consisting of a set of buildings that over the centuries have gradually been joined to an older nucleus acquired by the Municipality at the end of the thirteenth century, the inside of the complex can be visited by climbing the sixteenth-century cordoned staircase attributed to Bramante and originally conceived for the triumphal ascent on horseback of the representatives of the city government, a succession of rooms-loggias and chapels.

  • Basilica di San Petronio - We will visit the main place of worship in Bologna, surprisingly not the cathedral and we will discover the reason for its not really canonical appearance.
    Inside we will see the Bolognini Chapel, the longest sundial in the world and the four crosses

For groups of more than 2 people it is necessary to rent an audio guide at the entrance of the basilica (not included in the cost of the tour)

  • Archiginnasio di Bologna - Seat of the University of Bologna for three centuries, the Archiginnasio building remains a place full of charm.
    The ancient customs of students and professors, the heraldic coats of arms, the illuminated manuscripts and ancient books, the stands and the wooden statues of the anatomical theater make the visitor travel back in time
  • Via Pescherie Vecchie - The ancient central market of Bologna, from the Middle Ages the main trading center of the city, now a picturesque maze of historic shops, places to enjoy a good glass of wine and street food
  • Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell - Bologna, the small medieval New York whose horizon was marked by more than 100 towers.
    Why so many? Where did they go? Let’s discover some curiosities about the symbolic monument of Bologna from the city gate
What's Included
  • Guided tour with licensed guide
  • RC insurance
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Snacks
  • Audio guides (optional)
Additional Information

Explore the ruby-hued lanes of Bologna’s historic heart, touring the city’s iconic landmarks and uncovering their hidden tales. Balancing art, history, and gastronomy with undiscovered stories, local legends, and modern life’s allure, learn why Bologna has emerged as a top tourist pick in recent years. Strengthen your discovery with a certified guide, a genuine Bolognese DOC, on a private tour personalized for you.

  • Light walking involved
Location
Libreria Giannino Stoppani
Via Rizzoli
In front of Giannino Stoppani children's bookstore Via Rizzoli 1/f Bologna
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(31 Ratings)
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Paula_b
Jun 24, 2024
Bologna - Very interesting and informative! We were given great pieces of information about Bologna and terrific recommendations for where we could get various foods. Spot on!
Review provided by Viator
565marleer
Apr 16, 2024
Wonderful Tour, wonderful Guide - Isadora was a wonderful tour guide. She shared lots of history about Bologna as well as funny facts. We visited many different sites. We also learned about Italian cuisine and we certainly understand why Bologna is such a food capital. Isadora gave us great suggestions for things to do in the afternoon as well as restaurants for dinner.... and the best Gelato places in town. So our tour with her just kept giving.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Destination648183
Apr 4, 2024
Excellent Experience - We did both the private walking tour and the food tour with Isadora and both were excellent! Isadora was extremely knowledgeable as well as very patient (our group contained our two young children, who were adjusting to the time difference). We learned a lot about the beautiful city and even though it rained off and on both days we were there, Isadora was able to adjust our tour in response to the rain and we still had a wonderful time. I would definitely recommend both tours! Isadora also provided great dinner recommendations for us, which was above and beyond and really made our trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U7102hbdanielg
Feb 19, 2024
Personable and thorough - Isadora took us on a thorough, informative, and all-around great walking tour of the center of Bologna. She was informative, personable, and tried to understand our specific interests. 5/5!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Edward0752
Dec 21, 2023
A tour worth your while - An absolute pleasure walking around Bologna. Even in the rain, walking through galleries, eyeing shops and getting the story of the city, it was a fun time. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P4353xplisaw
Dec 21, 2023
AMAZING - My family booked a tour of Bologna with Isadora in March 23. We like to get a guided tour by locals, on the first day we get into a new city to get a better sense of the city and how things work, plus get the sights in. Isadora was wonderful. Her English is amazing. She showed us all the sights to see. More importantly, she loves wine and food, as do we. She gave us the all the tips on where to eat and drink. We were able to experience a locals only kind of day because of her tips. She was also very open to providing restaurant suggestions months before we got there and was helpful in giving us some tip on balsamic tastings outside of Bologna. I'd highly recommend booking with Isadora, you won't regret it. We didn't.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Miketm5790mk
Mar 22, 2023
Just the Best - Isadora was just fabulous. She's friendly, funny, and has a keen grasp of the history of Bologna. She learned from us that we loved libraries, so she took us into the Public Library and gained access to the ancient Roman ruins that lie beneath the library. One of the best walking tours we've ever had. when we finished, we felt we had a solid understanding of how Bologna became the city it is today.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
6aimee1
Nov 28, 2022
Beautiful Bologna - I booked a 2 hour walking tour of the historical center of Bologna on Viator. Christina, our tour guide, was excellent. The group was small and collegial which also made for a fun experience. We focused on the main educational, religious and gastronomic elements of the city. Fascinating! Christina's knowledge of the customs especially as it relates to the food culture was really interesting. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon_f
Jul 5, 2023
A walk around Bologna with a guide was great! - We had a private tour. The guide was very informative and pleasant. She took her time, and we enjoyed her very much.
Review provided by Viator
Theresa_c
Mar 29, 2023
Good tour of the heart of Bologna - Good tour. Learned a lot about the city. The guide was good. English was decent, better than my Italian for sure, but not 100% fluent. Didn’t detract from the tour, but occasionally struggled to understand her. Maybe slightly overpriced for what you get, but I did find Bologna to be surprisingly expensive compared to other cities in Italy (it’s more on par price-wise with Florence and Rome). Overall, no regrets with the tour.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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