Location: Santo Stefano
Top Things to do in Santo Stefano
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What to do and see in Santo Stefano, Emilia-Romagna: The Best Points of Interest & Landmarks
While crowds of tourists fill Venice, Florence and Rome, Bologna remains relatively quiet in comparison. This medieval university town is charming, historic and fun to explore… and you'll find Bologna's local cuisine is light-years away from the American deli meat bearing the city's name.
Restaurants in Bologna
1. Compianto sul Cristo Morto
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By Cartagena2019 - Cartagena, Colombia
Once you enter the church Santa Maria della Vita, you have to go to the box office and purchase the tickets to view this set of remarkable statues: quite rightly so, as Niccolò dell’Arca, allegedly form Dalmatia, created one of the most beautiful sets of sculptures, expressing unbearable pain, almost naturalistic, of those around Christ upon his death, especially Mary magdalene and Madonna. Perhaps the greatest artistic treasures in Bologna an absolute must.
2. Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,823 reviews
The colossal towers were built by Bologna's important families in the 12th century.
Reviewed By minkerryc
It is not often you get to climb a medieval tower nearly 1000 years old. There are 500 steps and those with claustrophobia or fear of heights may struggle. The view at the top is worth it though.
3. Piazza Maggiore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,773 reviews
Reviewed By nwaf247 - London, United Kingdom
The Centre of Bologna to meet or stroll or sit with drink or visit many of the historic sites surrounding The Piazza. Should be first stop when you arrive for first time.
4. Archiginnasio di Bologna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,931 reviews
Reviewed By 126marivicd - Venice, Italy
We visited the anatomical theatre, the library, and looked around the hallways. Wow so wonderful!!! I cannot imagine how an opulent university like this could have already existed in the 9th century. I could just imagine how students were taught during those days and how prestigious it must have been to graduate from this place. Amazing place!!! My tip is for you to visit the minute it opens so you can have the anatomical theatre all for yourself and get wonderful photos. The hallways and ceilings are also picture perfect. Be ready for an interesting and well spent time.
5. Libreria Ulisse
6. Palazzo del Podesta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 235 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
On the beautiful Piazza Maggiore next to Basilica di San Petronio and the beautiful Palazzo d'Accursio (or Palazzo Comunale) is the charming Palazzo del Podestà, makes a wonderful atmosphere throughout the square. The Palazzo del Podestà was erected in 1200 as a public building and a seat of power, the seat of the local podestà, the various functionaries of the commune. It is an architecturally impressive complex which includes two corridors that cross under the Voltone del Podestà. Overhead rises the Torre dell'Arengo with its bell that was used to summon the population in extraordinary moments. In 1453 Aristotile Fioravanti replaced the bell and reconstructed the original Gothic façade in the Renaissance style by order of Giovanni II Bentivoglio. Voltone del Podestà is decorated with terracotta statues set in 1500 with the figures of the city's protective saints: San Petronio, San Procolo, San Domenico, and San Francesco. The interesting thing is that under the Voltone del Podestà there is an extraordinary acoustic effect where you can stand under the opposite corners of the arch and hear each other clearly at a whisper. In the 16th-18th centuries the Palazzo was used as theatre. The Palazzo del Podestà proved too small to accommodate the large numbers of townspeople who turned out to participate in the city governance. As a result, a mere 40 years after its construction, the Palazzo Re Enzo was built alongside it. The Palazzo del Podestà is a long building, with a large hall on the upper floor. In the 20th century it was frescoed by Adolfo de Carolis. The lower floor is a double open arcade, through which today pass two lanes of shops.
7. Palazzo Sampieri Talon
8. Casa Isolani
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 357 reviews
Shopping, art, culture in the centre of Bologna
Reviewed By TheAngeloS - Hilliard, United States
An excellent look into the past of hoe the porticoes of Bologna came about. I am not sure it is the absolute oldest, but it is beautiful in its age. Take some time to study and then enjoy a small respite inside.
9. Chiesa di San Giovanni in Monte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By 445nikr - Varna, Bulgaria
This is another of the many churches of Bologna. It is in the central part of the city but hidden in a nice, small square aside from the well-beaten tourist tracks. Maybe that's why it was so quiet and serene inside and we were the only visitors in the late afternoon. It houses some beautiful paintings and stained glass. Although not as grand as the better known Bologna's churches, it is still worth a visit. A small plate is there on the facade giving some brief information about the church.
10. Quadrilatero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 582 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
The true spirit of Bologna can be felt here in Quadrilatero.This is the commercial heart of the old town center, overflowing with goods on the stands that are scattered along via Pescherie and via Drapperie, and full of noisy sellers and customers going by. To the east of Piazza Maggiore, the grid of streets around Via Clavature (Street of Locksmiths) sits on what was once Roman Bologna. Known as the Quadrilatero, this compact district is a great place for a wander with its market stalls, happening cafes and lavishly stocked gourmet delis. Nowadays the Quadrilatero is the historical center area bounded by piazza Maggiore, via Rizzoli, piazza della Mercanzia, via Castiglione, via Farini, piazza Galvani and via dell’Archiginnasio. Leaving behind us the elegant piazza Maggiore, the path leads to the narrow and odorous alleys of the old medieval market with the characteristic “holes”. Jewelers, butchers, delicatessens, greengrocer’s, bakeries, shops with traditional cuisine and craft activities and other specialized trades are located in these streets. Most of these shops have preserved the historic architecture and furnishing, thus making them genuine artistic treasures.
