What to do in Bologna?

May 6, 2018 7:13 PM

I'll be in Bologna, Italy for a week in May. What (preferably offbeat, science-related) places should I see, or do?

Note: I'm not a foodie, so food related activities will not interest me.

posted by dhruva to Travel & Transportation (12 answers total)

The Teatro Anatomico (the medical school at the University of Bologna, established in 1088) is worth a visit.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 7:35 PM on May 6, 2018 [7 favorites]

If you don't know what you're looking at, it's not visually overwhelming, but there's Cassini's Meridian Line in the San Petronio Basilica.
posted by alygator at 12:32 AM on May 7, 2018 [4 favorites]

Seconding the meridian line. We were there on my birthday in December, very close to the winter solstice. Timing is everything.
posted by rd45 at 2:17 AM on May 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

There’s also the Marconi Museum, which has some interesting scientific information. It’s just outside the city, but easy to reach and in a rather lovely location.
posted by Superplin at 3:48 AM on May 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

Perhaps not offbeat enough, but there is a World Superbike (motorcycle) race at the raceway in Imola in May and some other races. Imola is a short train ride from Bologna, the grounds of the race track are gorgeous and the town also has some other interesting attractions.
posted by danielleh at 6:38 AM on May 7, 2018

Oh, on a related note, if you’re into motorcycles the Ducati factory offers tours and a museum. Some cool historical photos and artifacts.

The Industrial Heritage Museum also covers, among other things, the local silk industry. After a visit you can hunt down the “secret” spots where you can glimpse the canals and mill wheels.
posted by Superplin at 8:04 AM on May 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

The Palazzo Poggi museum was one of my favorites when I was in Bologna. The Anatomy section is certainly offbeat but I was oddly drawn to the military architecture models...

Bologna is really good with exhibitions. Check for anything interesting going on while you are there.
posted by vacapinta at 9:00 AM on May 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

If you can get to Padua (it's not far) the Museum of Precinema.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:46 AM on May 7, 2018

Bologna is an amazing place to eat. Osteria Broscaindosso and Antica Trattoria Spiga (almost next to each other on Via Broccaindosso) are particularly great, as is the slightly fancier Pane e Panelle on Via San Vitale nearby.

If you're into unusual music, the AngelicA Festival is going on for most of the month of May.
posted by remembrancer at 10:57 AM on May 7, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks for the recommendations! I'll update here on what I ended up visiting.
posted by dhruva at 11:51 PM on May 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

Also worth bearing in mind that Bologna is only a 35 minute train ride from Florence.
posted by biffa at 4:09 PM on May 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: HI all, thanks again for your suggestions. We ended up going to the San Petronio Basilica to see Cassini's meridian line, the Palazzo Poggi museum (yes the military models, and the fort designs were awesome) and the Teatro Anatomico and since we did go to Florence, we didn't have much time to go to places that were further off.
posted by dhruva at 9:18 AM on May 22, 2018