Italy
Things to do in Bologna
25 places22 stories3 routes
Sightlore has 25 places to explore in Bologna, and 22 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Bologna's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Certosa di Bologna
The Certosa di Bologna is a former Carthusian monastery (or charterhouse) in Bologna, northern Italy, which was founded in 1334 and suppressed in 1797. In 1801 it became the city's Monumental Cemetery which would be much praised by Byron and others.
- 2
Asinelli tower
One of the Two Towers of Bologna and a symbol of the city, standing in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana where the ancient roads to the city gates meet.
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Archeological Civic Museum of Bologna
The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna is located in the fifteenth-century Palazzo Galvani building at Via dell'Archiginnasio 2 postal code 40124 Bologna, once known as the Hospital of Death.
- 4
Basilica of San Domenico
The Basilica of San Domenico is one of the major churches in Bologna, Italy.
- 5
San Petronio Basilica
The Basilica of San Petronio is a minor basilica and church of the Archdiocese of Bologna located in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. It dominates Piazza Maggiore.
Read its story → - 6
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna
The National Art Gallery of Bologna (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna) is a museum in Bologna, Italy.
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Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a basilica church located in Bologna, northern Italy, situated atop the forested hill of Colle (or Monte) della Guardia, approximately 300 metres above the city plain, just southwest of the historical centre.
- 8
Fountain of Neptune, Bologna
The Fountain of Neptune is a monumental civic fountain located in the eponymous square, Piazza del Nettuno, next to Piazza Maggiore, in Bologna, Italy.
- 9
San Giacomo Maggiore
The Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore is an historic Roman Catholic church in Bologna, region of Emilia Romagna, Italy, serving a monastery of Augustinian friars.
- 10
Palazzo d'Accursio
Palazzo d'Accursio (or Palazzo Comunale) is a palace once formulated to house major administrative offices of the city of Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is located on the Piazza Maggiore, and is the city's Town Hall.
Discovery routes in Bologna
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Bologna: Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers
From the Fountain of Neptune to Palazzo d'Accursio, Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio; past the Archiginnasio, the Archaeological Museum and Santa Maria della Vita to the Asinelli and Garisenda towers, Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano, Santo Stefano and San Domenico.
Bologna: From the Cathedral to the Botanical Garden
From the Cathedral of San Pietro to the basilicas of San Martino Maggiore and San Giacomo Maggiore, the Teatro Comunale, the Pinacoteca Nazionale and the Botanical Garden.
Bologna: Porta Saragozza, San Luca and the Certosa
From the Basilica of San Francesco to Porta Saragozza, the hilltop Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca and the Certosa monumental cemetery.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Palazzo d'Accursio
Palazzo d'Accursio (or Palazzo Comunale) is a palace once formulated to house major administrative offices of the city of Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is located on the Piazza Maggiore, and is the city's Town Hall.
Piazza Maggiore
Piazza Maggiore (Piâza Mażåur in the Bolognese language) is a central square in Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, a hub within the city since medieval times.
Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio
The Archiginnasio of Bologna is one of the most important buildings in the city of Bologna; once the main building of the University of Bologna, it currently houses the Archiginnasio Municipal Library and the Anatomical Theatre.
Asinelli tower
One of the Two Towers of Bologna and a symbol of the city, standing in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana where the ancient roads to the city gates meet.
Garisenda tower
One of the Two Towers of Bologna and a symbol of the city, standing beside the Asinelli tower in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana.
Teatro Comunale
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna is an opera house in Bologna, Italy. Typically, it presents eight operas with six performances during its November to April season.
Porta Saragozza
The Porta Saragozza is one of the historic gates in the medieval walls of Bologna, Italy. Constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries, the gate was equipped by 1334 with a drawbridge spanning a surrounding moat.
Certosa di Bologna
The Certosa di Bologna is a former Carthusian monastery (or charterhouse) in Bologna, northern Italy, which was founded in 1334 and suppressed in 1797. In 1801 it became the city's Monumental Cemetery which would be much praised by Byron and others.
Museums
Archeological Civic Museum of Bologna
The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna is located in the fifteenth-century Palazzo Galvani building at Via dell'Archiginnasio 2 postal code 40124 Bologna, once known as the Hospital of Death.
Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita is a late-Baroque-style, Roman Catholic church in central Bologna, near the Piazza Maggiore.
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna
The National Art Gallery of Bologna (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna) is a museum in Bologna, Italy.
Cineteca di Bologna
The Cineteca di Bologna (officially Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna) is a film archive and cultural institution in Bologna, Italy, founded on 18 May 1962 and regarded as one of the most important cinematheques in Europe.
Places of worship
San Petronio Basilica
The Basilica of San Petronio is a minor basilica and church of the Archdiocese of Bologna located in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. It dominates Piazza Maggiore.
Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano
Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano is a Renaissance style, Roman Catholic church in central Bologna; it is located near the Two Towers, adjacent to the Strada Maggiore.
Santo Stefano Church
The Basilica of Santo Stefano encompasses a complex of religious edifices in the city of Bologna, Italy. Located on Piazza Santo Stefano, it is locally known as Sette Chiese ("Seven Churches") and Santa Gerusalemme ("Holy Jerusalem").
Basilica of San Domenico
The Basilica of San Domenico is one of the major churches in Bologna, Italy.
Bologna Cathedral
Bologna Cathedral, formally known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter, is the cathedral of Bologna, Italy, and the seat of the Archbishop of Bologna.
San Martino
San Martino church, also called San Martino Maggiore is a Gothic-style, Roman Catholic church located at the corner of Via Marsala and Via Guglielmo Oberdan in Bologna, region of Emilia Romagna, Italy.
San Giacomo Maggiore
The Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore is an historic Roman Catholic church in Bologna, region of Emilia Romagna, Italy, serving a monastery of Augustinian friars.
Basilica of Saint Francis
The Basilica of Saint Francis is a historic church in the city of Bologna in northern Italy. Founded in the 13th century, it has been the property of the Conventual Franciscan friars since then.
Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a basilica church located in Bologna, northern Italy, situated atop the forested hill of Colle (or Monte) della Guardia, approximately 300 metres above the city plain, just southwest of the historical centre.
San Paolo Maggiore, Bologna
San Paolo Maggiore, also known as San Paolo Decollato, is a Baroque-style, Roman Catholic basilica church located on Via Carbonari #18 in Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Monuments
Fountain of Neptune, Bologna
The Fountain of Neptune is a monumental civic fountain located in the eponymous square, Piazza del Nettuno, next to Piazza Maggiore, in Bologna, Italy.
Nature
Orto botanico dell'Università di Bologna
The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Bologna, also known as the Orto Botanico di Bologna, is a botanical garden operated by the University of Bologna. It is located at Via Irnerio, 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy, and open daily except Mondays.
Giardini Margherita
The Giardini Margherita is a park in Bologna, Italy, located just south of the city centre.
Explore Bologna with your camera
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