Bologna is a city that completely envelops you: it surprises you with its beauty and delights you with the flavors of its cuisine.
It is one of the most beautiful and ancient cities in Italy and is known for its three nicknames: la dotta , for being the home of the first university in the world; the red , for the color of its historic buildings; and the fat one , for the richness of its culinary tradition.
Visiting Bologna means getting lost in the streets of the center and walking under the beautiful porticoes that house elegant luxury shops.
Despite being a student city full of young people, Bologna is the ideal place for those who love historic shops, elegant pastry shops and has a great variety of restaurants that highlight the famous Bolognese cuisine.
If you have decided to spend a few days here, here is what to visit in 3 days in Bologna completely on foot .

Independence Street
The first stop of the tour can only be via Indipendenza which connects the central station to Piazza Maggiore. It is the shopping street par excellence, where you can stroll under the beautiful Bolognese porticoes and enjoy the windows of the elegant luxury shops.
You should know that Bologna is unique for its notable kilometers of porticoes, 40 km long. The portico of San Luca is the longest in the world, with its 3,796 meters and its 666 arches.
Under the arcades you can find numerous clothing shops of the most famous national and international fashion brands, in a refined atmosphere, among beautiful period buildings.
To see a very particular attraction of Bologna, at the intersection of via Indipendenza and via Augusto Righi, take via Piella. Here, at number 16, there is a small window overlooking the Moline canal still full of water.
It has become one of the most photographed places in Bologna and there is often a long queue of people ready to take a photo of this truly unusual view. Maybe you didn't know that, in the 12th century, Bologna was a city of water, with 5 ports and navigable canals
In via Indipendenza, for a stay with all the comforts, I recommend the Grand Hotel Majestic formerly Baglioni . This luxury hotel, dating back to the 19th century, offers elegant and spacious rooms, high-quality services and breathtaking views of the city.
Once you have checked in and left your elegant and practical travel bags in your room, you can be transported into a sophisticated culinary experience, having dinner at I Carracci, the restaurant inside the hotel. The location is very suggestive thanks to the beautiful frescoes of the Carracci school and the refined cuisine enhances the tradition of Emilian culture.
Once you reach the end of Via Indipendenza, you will find yourself in Piazza Maggiore , the beating heart of the city, also called Piazza Grande, surrounded by cafés and pastry shops. The 13th-century square is surrounded by some of Bologna's most beautiful and significant buildings, such as the Palazzo d'Accursio, which houses the city's town hall, and the Basilica of San Petronio, one of the largest Gothic-style churches in Italy .

The two Towers
If you find yourself in front of the Basilica of San Petronio, don't miss the opportunity to explore Piazza Galvani, an enchanting square that contains some of the most important symbols of Bologna.
Let your gaze rest on the Asinelli tower, 97 meters high and undisputed icon of the city of Bologna. Climbing to the top of this tower is a unique and unforgettable experience: you will feel as if you were touching the sky with a finger, admiring the breathtaking spectacle that opens before your eyes.
But the Asinelli tower is not the only wonder of Piazza Galvani: next to it, stands the Garisenda tower, only 47 meters high but famous for its impressive slope, which makes it seem almost as if it were about to fall. A view that you cannot miss, which will leave you speechless and will make you feel small in front of the grandeur of nature.
After climbing the tower, you can treat yourself to a stop at Caffè Zanarini, a true institution in Bologna. Founded in 1905, the coffee shop is famous for its retro atmosphere and its coffee.
If, however, you feel like a tasty aperitif near the towers, in a refined and elegant venue, I recommend Room with a Bistrot View in via Santo Stefano, inside the Palazzo degli Isolani. Here you can enjoy a large variety of cocktails and refined drinks, spirits and liqueurs, accompanied by typical dishes of Bolognese cuisine, amidst velvety drapes.
If you then want to listen to good music, a door at the back of this place leads to a spacious club that offers Italian jazz music .

Archiginnasio: Anatomical Theater and Library
Another thing to visit in Bologna in 3 days, again in Piazza Galvani, is the Archiginnasio, a true jewel that testifies to the rich history and culture of the city. Built in the 16th century, the Archiginnasio was the home of the prestigious University of Bologna, the oldest university in the Western world. At that time, this building housed the anatomical theater , an anatomy classroom where students observed various experiments.
Today, the Archiginnasio houses the municipal library, one of the most important public libraries in Italy, with a vast collection of ancient and modern books.
If you love books, here's what you can visit in Bologna in 3 days. The Coop Ambasciatori bookshop in via Orefici is a magical place that combines the great Italian culture with the richness of gastronomy. On the top floor of the building there is in fact a delightful food and wine space managed by Eataly , where you can enjoy the best traditional Bolognese and Italian dishes and purchase food and wine products.
Not to be missed, also in the center of Bologna, is the recent Cantina Letteraria in via Mascarella, where you can taste a wide selection of natural wines and artisanal wines from Bolognese companies. To make your experience unusual, in this magnificent venue, each book is paired with a wine from the cellar.

National Art Gallery
If you are passionate about art and culture, a stop to visit in 3 days in Bologna is the Pinacoteca Nazionale, one of the most important art museums in Italy. The collection includes works by artists such as Parmigianino, Titian and Raphael, as well as a selection of ancient and medieval artworks. The museum is located in the historic center, in via delle belle arti n. 56, in the heart of the university area under the arcades.

Quadrilateral
The last attraction of the historic center that I suggest you visit in 3 days in Bologna is the Quadrilatero , the true commercial center of the city with ancient tradition. The Quadrilatero is divided into a square made up of via Rizzoli, via dell'Archiginnasio, via Farini and via Castiglione. The streets of this ancient market are full of shops, restaurants, delicacies and taverns where you can taste the typical dishes and products of Emilian and Romagna cuisine.
But before leaving the city, remember to go to the My Style Bags store in Via d'Azeglio n. 63 in the center. To show her the new chic and customizable travel bags, perfect for every weekend.
The shop is located right in via d'Azeglio which, in addition to being the parlor of Bologna for its beautiful shops, is also famous for Lucio Dalla 's house, which has now become a museum that houses the private spaces where the singer-songwriter lived.
For some years, during the Christmas holidays, the street has become the protagonist with lights featuring the verses of famous songs by Dalla, Cremonini and other artists.
Bologna is a city rich in history and attractions and is a paradise for food and wine lovers. The perfect choice to spend 3 days of holiday among refined venues and bistros in the name of a unique culinary tradition in the world.