Hidden gems in Bologna

Bologna's Secret Towers & Gems

Beyond the main squares, Bologna preserves a dense network of medieval skyscrapers and secluded Gothic architecture. This selection features the 60-meter Azzoguidi Tower and the Prendiparte Tower, alongside the 14th-century Palace of Commerce. It highlights the city's hidden waterways through the 'Little Venice' window and commemorates history at the bronze 'il Popolano' statue and the contemporary Shoah Memorial. The list also includes the hilltop San Luca basilica, connected to the center by the world's longest portico.

Bologna's Secret Towers & Gems — Map

Mattana / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca

The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a basilica church in Bologna, northern Italy, sited atop a forested hill, Colle or Monte della…

Mammamia / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Palace of Commerce

Historic Gothic palace dating from the 14th century, serving as the seat of the merchant guild and Chamber of Commerce since the late 1300s.

Workshop of Ludovico Carracci… / CC BY 2.0

C

San Colombano

Historic former church featuring Baroque frescoes, a collection of ancient musical instruments, and a library.

sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Azzoguidi Tower

One of the towers in Bologna named after the street on which it stands. With its 61 metres, it's sometimes called "The Tall Beauty".

Mariaorecchia / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Piazza Cavour

Historic square featuring neoclassical porticoes and an urban garden, symbolizing bourgeois prosperity and elegance.

Carlo Pelagalli / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Grassi Palace

Medieval Gothic palace featuring notable interior artworks and serving as the seat of the Officers' Club.

Vladimir Vera Plaza / CC-BY-SA

G

Window on the Canal

Small hidden window revealing a view of the historic underground canal system known as 'Little Venice'.

Gaspa / CC BY 2.0

H

Torre dei Prendiparte

A 12th-century medieval tower standing 60 meters tall, also known as Torre Coronata. It historically served as a seminary and an archiepiscopal prison, where prisoner inscriptions are still visible on the interior walls.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

I

Monumento ai caduti del VIII Agosto 1848

A bronze statue by Pasquale Rizzoli, known as 'Il Popolano,' commemorating the 1848 victory of Bolognese citizens over Austrian troops. It stands at the entrance of Parco della Montagnola.

Ico-Neko / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Torre dei Guidozagni

A 13th-century medieval tower that was truncated in 1487 to accommodate the construction of the surrounding palace. It remains one of the few surviving examples of the city's original defensive towers.

Massimop / CC BY-SA 3.0

K

Torre Degli Scappi

Dating from 1220, this medieval tower is integrated into the 16th-century Palazzo Scappi. Its base houses a historic workshop, demonstrating how Bologna’s medieval structures were adapted for commercial use over centuries.

Yuli Aby / CC-BY-SA

L

Memoriale della Shoah

A contemporary monument near the central station consisting of two symmetrical steel blocks. The narrow passage between the 10-meter-high structures is designed to evoke a sense of restriction and reflection.

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