Hotels in Bologna, Italy

How to Find the Best Bologna Hotels with Hotels.com

Bologna is part of a metropolitan area of about one million and is a city bordering the upper area of Italy. Founded rougly around 1,000 B.C., the city has enjoyed life as a well-known outpost for the Etruscans, the Celts, and the Romans. Bologna is home to large college-age population and is the home of the world's oldest university, the University of Bologna, which was founded in 1088. This city of immense culture and history is an enjoyable place to visit, and Hotels.com can take care of all of the arrangements for finding the best Bologna Hotels for you. Hotels.com, a worldwide leader in hotel management, can provide the traveler with an exhaustive listing of hotels for every visitor's budget and taste. Tourists will be further encouraged at the excellent guest rating system that Hotels.com has for each hotel listed, and will find their search made even easier by filtering via star rating or price.

What is Bologna Like?

Bologna has been a cultural and historical center for thousands of years, so it is a great place for the history enthusiast to visit. The city has a unique and beautiful design, well-known for the many arcades throughout the area. Individuals can visit the Fountain of Neptune, which was finished in 1567 by the famous Flemish sculptor known as Giambologna. The statue was commissioned by Cardinal Charles Borromeo to commemorate the election of his uncle as Pope Pius IV. One interesting fact is that the logo for the Maserati car company, founded in the 1920's, is based on the design on King Neptune's trident. Visitors can tour the Piazza Maggiore, which is Bologna's city square and houses the San Petronio Basilica, began in 1390 and completed in 1467. Another important landmark is the Two Towers of Bologna, which were constructed around 1109. In the 1600's the Bologna Towers were used by Italian scientists to study motion and the Earth's rotation, it was used as a command post during World War II, and architect Minoru Yamasaki used the towers as inspiration for his design of the Twin Towers of New York City in the 1960s.

Hints and Tips for Getting Along with Locals in Bologna

After booking one of Hotels.com's great Bologna Hotels, visitors will want to get out and mingle with the locals while visiting some of the important landmarks. Bologna is was near the center of the Catholic religion, and although the majority of Italians are non-religious, they still place a great deal of respect and reverence in their institutions, some of which are centuries old. If you are going to visit a church, please be certain to wear appropriate attire. Since Bologna is a college town, be prepared for a more liberal atmosphere. If you are dining in a restaurant, be sure to order Tagliatelle al ragu bologna, which is a traditional dish from Bologna. If you are relying on the railway stations and the other public transportation options, then you need to be aware that the buildings and interior waiting areas for them are not very big. You may very well have to wait outside for your train, and it could be a long wait. If you are visiting during the winter, make certain to wear heavy clothing so that you will not be uncomfortable if you have to wait outside. Remember that travel experts Hotels.com has extensive listings of Bologna Hotels and enjoy your trip!