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Two Towers, Bologna

Two Towers, Bologna: Our most recommended tours and activities

Bologna: City Center Walking Tour

1. Bologna: City Center Walking Tour

Take a classic walking tour through the streets of the Bologna city center. With this guided tour, discover the history of Bologna and its major cultural attractions. Make stops at the Asinelli tower, Neptune fountain, and the Basilica of San Petronio. Meet your guide and walk through the city streets admiring the architecture and discovering the most-famous cultural attraction. See the towers of Bologna and marvel at their height and significance. Then, stroll through the Quadrilatero Market, and learn important historical facts. Make a wish at the Neptune fountain and see if it comes true. Then, gaze at the Basilica of San Petronio, as your guide shares its story and welcomes you into the city of Bologna.

Bologna: Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour

2. Bologna: Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour

Get to know Bologna at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour that is played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. Enjoy an ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children which can be used as a great team-building activity. Solve puzzles outside of ten Bologna attractions. Use clues at each attraction to find your next destination. Enjoy the challenge of using logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to complete the game. Feel the satisfaction of solving each riddle. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. Have the freedom to pause or resume the tour whenever you want. Admire the city at your own pace. Uncover interesting information and facts about the city. Snap as many pictures as you want.  You can start playing anytime, the schedule is indicative. Start your tour at Towers of Bologna. Visit the Biblioteca Salaborsa with its unique archives. Photograph the municipal complex of Palazzo d'Accursio and the chapel and admire the Santuario di Santa Maria della Vita with its original Gothic style and lifelike sculptures. Then head to the Salina Palace and Osteria Le Sette Chiese for some unbeatable photo opportunities. Admire the beautiful Piazza Minghetti and the interior of Basilica di San Domenico. The small but miraculous Oratorio dello Spirito Santo is well worth your time, and the icing on the cake is the Church of the Holy Savior.

Bologna Guided Bike Tour

3. Bologna Guided Bike Tour

Important the tour have to been booked 24 hours in advance or you have to call us for a definitive confirmation. Did you know that there is a network of underground canals running below the city? And that the oldest university in the world was founded right here in 1088? Get on your bike and follow us to discover Bologna’s highlights with our 2.5-hour bike tour! The first stop is Piazza Maggiore, in the heart of the city, overlooked by some of Bologna’s most famous buildings and monuments: the Basilica of San Petronio, Palazzo Re Enzo and the Neptune Fountain. Follow our guide to the Archiginnasio, once home to the University of Bologna, the Two Towers as well as the Prendiparte Tower, one of the few towers still standing in the historical centre. In the Manifattura delle Arti district you can find out about the origins of the ancient port of Bologna and the canals that still flow under the road surface, so important for the economic development of the city in the Middle Ages. Speaking of canals, another must-see place is via Piella, where you can see the water of the Moline Canal flowing open-air from a little window. The last stops of our Bologna bike tour are the wonderful Basilica di Santo Stefano, also called Sette Chiese (Seven Churches), and the Basilica San Domenico, which houses a work by Michelangelo. The tour will start with a minimum of 4 partecipants

Bologna: Panoramic Bike Tour

4. Bologna: Panoramic Bike Tour

Important the tour have to been booked 24 hours in advance or you have to call us for a definitive confirmation for a definitive confirmation. Travelhoo's Bologna bike experience is a good idea if you wish to discover the city with a local, in a sustainable and fun way. Pedaling between churches, monuments and historic buildings, our tour leaders will provide you with some explanations of the city's most and least known attractions, but without lingering in lengthy explanations. This way you will be able to see many different landmarks in a short time, as well as fully enjoy the atmosphere of this vibrant city. Needless to say, the bike experience includes a stop in Piazza Maggiore. You’ll see the Basilica of San Petronio, famous for its unfinished facade, and the nearby Neptune Fountain, as well as the Archiginnasio - the city's oldest university seat - and the former Jewish Ghetto, located just a few steps away from the Two Towers. Together with our cicerone you will also head for Via Zamboni, the university street par excellence in the city, and Via del Pratello, a lively street hosting pubs, restaurants and beer gardens. At Cavaticcio Park you will also discover that Bologna once had a river port, and that the city is home to one of Europe's most important film libraries. Should you have any questions at the end of the bike ride, our tour leaders will be happy to give you hints and tips on activities you can do in Bologna, and of course on the best places in town where you can taste our traditional cuisine. The tour will start with a minimum of 4 partecipants. If you prefer to take part in a classic bike tour of Bologna led by a tour guide, check out our Bologna Bike Tour.

Bologna: Self-Guided Historical Audio Tour

5. Bologna: Self-Guided Historical Audio Tour

Explore the reasons behind the many names of Bologna. Admire the red roofs of the city that are the reason for it being called "the red city." Feast on the delectable cuisine that gives Bologna the name "the fat city." Marvel at the forest of over 100 towers that once dotted the landscape of the city, also known as "the towered." Walk the ground of the world's oldest university, the reason that Bologna is sometimes referred to as "the cultured". Learn about each facet of the city on this walking tour, as well as its history and stories, like how the rebellious Bolognese stopped the city from becoming the Vatican. Discover how the Fountain of Neptune's sculptor got away with making Neptune seem particularly well-endowed despite prohibition from the church while at the Piazza del Nettuno. Gaze up at the Whispering Gallery under the Torre dell Arengo while being told about how star-crossed lovers were able to murmur sweet nothings to each other without their other romantic partners knowing. Hear about the legends of Le Tre Frecce and catch a glimpse of how Bologna once resembled Venice with its network of canals and rivers while passing Canale delle Moline. Then, walk down Via Indipendenza and see what it would have been like in the post-Risorgimento period. Have the opportunity to see San Petronio, the largest and most important church of the city before strolling down Via Rizzoli, named after a 19th-century physician. Hear about Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of two countries. Pass by Il Pincio, the entrance to Parco della Montagnola, a French style garden commissioned by Napoleon. Take in Garisenda and Asinelli, Bologna’s Two Towers. Stand beside Porta Galliera, where a retreating Austrian army left the city following a rebellion by the Bolognese in 1848. Learn about the city’s history from the Etruscans and the Lombards, including the chaotic factional fighting between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Discover the Quadrilatero neighbourhood with its cafes and restaurants, and find out about the seven churches of Santo Stefano. Finally, explore the culinary wonders of the city responsible for iconic dishes like lasagna, ragu, and tagliatelle. These recipes were born and fiercely guarded in the chamber of commerce. Then see the cafés, restaurants and shops where you can allow your tummy and taste buds to be tempted by these culinary marvels.

Bologna gastronomic experience with a local

6. Bologna gastronomic experience with a local

We'll take you through a gastronomic journey which will make you discover what are the hidden places and food that only the locals knows and that you must try! The goal is to share with you what exactly our typical day would be, the classic outing we do with our friends and family, surprising your appetite and taste buds with + 15 foods and wine tastings! We'll start with a proper Italian breakfast in the best pasticceria in town! Then we will move on directly purchasing and tasting cold cuts, cheeses and breads, many different types but all belonging to the Area of Bologna, always accompanied by local wine. Then walking through the old town centre, we'll try two iconic homemade pasta in a classical Osteria Bolognese, always paired with another local wine. We will conclude with the best gelato in town! There will be a surprise tasting in the middle of the experience, which will give you the opportunity to taste another emilian tradition. Of course, being local, will share with you some historical and interesting anecdotes about the city and it's cuisine! To give right expectations, our cuisine it is not historically and properly indicated for vegetarian diet but of course we'll do our best to accomodate all yours requests !

Bologna: Ancient and Recent History Self-Guided Audio Tour

7. Bologna: Ancient and Recent History Self-Guided Audio Tour

Bologna is home to some of the best food, the most sublime beauty, and the richest history in all of Italy. Yet it’s rarely on the tourist radar. On this walking tour, award-winning author Frank Bures will give you a taste of authentic Italian culture, show you the city’s many historical sites, and tell you the stories most travelers don’t hear. Throughout the walk, he’ll share anecdotes from the time he spent in Bologna as an exchange student in the 1990s, where he came of age as a global citizen. Starting at the Neptune Fountain, you’ll walk through Piazza Maggiore to San Petronio Basilica where you’ll see the world’s largest sundial. You’ll then make your way to the Two Towers, one of which garnered a mention in Dante’s Inferno, and stroll beneath the famous porticos that became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021. En route to the city’s culinary epicenter, the Quadrilatero, he’ll show you where the 1902 murder that dominated world headlines for three years took place. He’ll also tell you about the case of a 1980 train station bombing by right-wing terrorists that killed 85 people, before you walk back to San Petronio to learn about Michelangelo’s lost statue of Pope Julius II. Finally, you’ll loop past Piazza Galvani to hear about scientific experiments that electrified frogs before heading back where you started. Along the way, you’ll also have the chance to: • Hear about the different Italian dialects Frank encountered while studying here, including Bolognese • See the Roxy Bar, which was featured in the Italian superstar Vasco Rossi’s song Vita Spericolata (The Reckless Life) • Discover how the world’s oldest university got its start • Take in the “Seven Churches” of Santo Stefano • Find out how an ancient painting once saved the city • Learn the secret to cooking good Italian food • Be transported back to the time Aerosmith visited the city • Relive the glory of Bologna’s canals which once rivaled Venice’s • Understand why the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio called Niccolò dell’Arca’s Lamentation for the Dead Christ sculpture a “scream in stone” Join Frank Bures for this lighthearted 60-minute stroll through the ancient – and more recent – past of Bologna, a place that art critic John Berger once called “an improbable city.” PHOTO CREDITS: Photos of San Luca, Piazza Maggiore, Piazza Maggiore at night, Neptune at night, Santo Stefano and “Speaking Bolognese" courtesy of Bologna Welcome. All other photos by the author.

Bologna Private Highlights Bike Tour

8. Bologna Private Highlights Bike Tour

The bike tour designed to show you the best of Bologna in two hours: from the oldest university in the world to the grandiose Piazza Maggiore, up to pedaling under the Two Towers, we will discover the most significant places of this magnificent city. The Bologna that we will tell you about in this private bike tour is a city that has ancient origins, the guardian of an exceptional historical, artistic and cultural heritage.

Bologna: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

9. Bologna: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

Walk through a beautiful route of the city, discover hidden gems and visit 10+ of the most important attractions and spots. Learn some introductory information about each place and interesting stories about the city in general. Download the ‘World City Trail ‘app from the store and login. Read the instructions and head to the starting location. Unlock photos of the exterior and the interior of the location. Read some information regarding the attraction and continue walking to the next checkpoint. Note what you liked and did not like and create your bucket list for the next days! Start your walk any time, without a schedule. Pause it for lunch, have a drink, visit an attraction of your choice, and continue later or even another day. With the maps feature, you will never get lost. Start your tour at Towers of Bologna a symbol of the city! Visit the Biblioteca Salaborsa with its unique archives. Photograph the municipal complex of Palazzo d'Accursio with its unique chapel and admire the Santuario di Santa Maria della Vita with its unique Gothic style and lifelike sculptures. The Salina Palace in front of a mythical square will amaze you. Then Osteria Le Sette Chiese awaits you, don't forget to take pictures. Piazza Minghetti will leave you speechless with its beauty. Admire the Basilica di San Domenico and its beautiful interior! The small but miraculous Oratorio dello Spirito Santo is worth your time and the space on your mobile memory, while the icing on the cake of this unique tour will be the Church of the Holy Savior that will surprise you with the peace that emanates...

Bologna: Guided Architecture Walking Tour

10. Bologna: Guided Architecture Walking Tour

Start the tour at Archiginnasio Palace, which serves as the main office building for the oldest university in the world – the University of Bologna. After, walk to Piazza Maggiore, where the Basilica of San Petronio is located, known for its imposing facade. Continue to Piazza del Nettuno, which is surrounded by three important administrative buildings: Palazzo d'Accursio, Palazzo del Podestà, and Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo. Afterward, continue to the base of Bologna's iconic towers, the Asinelli Tower and the Garisenda Tower. Learn about the history and features of these imposing structures. Next, continue to the wooden arch of Corte Isolani and see the Oratory of Santa Cecilia. Admire the exterior of the church of San Giacomo Maggiore, before concluding the tour in the area of Quadrilatero, which is home to many markets and shops.

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What people are saying about Two Towers, Bologna

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 685 reviews

We had a lovely day and couldn’t have asked for better weather or a guide in Pablo. Infact the entire team of Albero, Esther, Pablo and the driver Antonio made this experience so much fun and memorable. We also loved hearing Pablo’s stories and the history of the region during the hike. Would highly recommend to those who want to see!

This is such an affordable way to see a city. The tour was interesting, hit so many major spots. The directions are actually so clear and easy to follow you rarely need to look at the map, if ever. Would definitely recommend as a great way of seeing so much of the city and learning more than you would just read in a guide book!

Wow! I never knew there was so much unique and interesting history living side-by-side in Bologna! Alberto really made this city come to life in stories!

An excellent walking tour in the centre of Bologna, very well organised with an exceedingly knowledgeable guide, fantastic value for money.

Very knowledgeable guide. Easy to understand her English.