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As if Florence weren’t enough, we planned a trip to Bologna. It’s always exciting to take a train trip with minimal gear – just enough clothes and gear for a weekend.

We booked a place across the street from the train and bus stations, and a short walk from Old Town. Not too shabby, in fact it was amazing. Andres met us and gave us the quick tour, he’s from Argentina and dreams of travelling a lot more. I think we gave him some inspiration! Find his booking.com listing here, and for sure rent from him if you’re in Bologna.

Our apartment is the white window, top floor, under the sign, second from left
Our apartment is the white window, top floor, under the sign, second from left

On our walk in to the Old Town centre, we stopped by the bus stop and got our tickets to the Lamborghini Museum! (Alice is beyond excited at this point!) This is one of the nicer bus stations we’ve seen, and really long, with at least thirty stalls in a row, but with a style that’s all over Europe.

The Bologna bus station is like the one in Kotor only huger!
The Bologna bus station is like the one in Kotor only huger!

We started walking North and right next to the bus station is this old wall, the gates guarding Bologna.

We start our walk at the old wall surrounding Old Town
We start our walk at the old wall surrounding Old Town

This ornate statue has a very oceanic theme even though Bologna is probably the very centre of Italy (landlocked):

The beautiful statue/fountain at the entrance to Scalinata Del Pincio
The beautiful statue/fountain at the entrance to Scalinata Del Pincio

Lookng back toward our apartment, not even the cold weather and drizzle dampens our spirits – in fact it adds to the atmosphere.

Looking back from the top of the stairs at The beautiful statue/fountain at the entrance to Scalinata Del Pincio toward our apartment and the train and bus stations
Looking back from the top of the stairs at The beautiful statue/fountain at the entrance to Scalinata Del Pincio toward our apartment and the train and bus stations

We’re starting to feel Bologna’s history and style walking down this street toward Neptune’s Fountain.

Walking toward Neptune's Fountain from Scalinata Del Pincio
Walking toward Neptune’s Fountain from Scalinata Del Pincio

As usual we always happen upon things “by accident” after doing the bare bit of research. We saw the sign for Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio and walked right in, paid a small fee and I was amazed. I’ve always loved anatomy and this is one of the first places in the world where surgeons could learn their craft with real cadavers. Rare at the time (the Renaissance).

This is the staircase, the entrance to the Theatre and also a print museum.

We happened upon the Archiginnasio of Bologna, where they studied surgery on cadavers from the 16th Century
We happened upon the Archiginnasio of Bologna, where they studied surgery on cadavers from the 16th Century

The theatre is all wood and marble and I can’t describe how exciting it was to see the attention to details:

In the surgical theatre at Archiginnasio of Bologna, we were surrounded by careful craftsmanship and respect for the human body. Amazing!
In the surgical theatre at Archiginnasio of Bologna, we were surrounded by careful craftsmanship and respect for the human body. Amazing!

Everyone in this room was quiet, almost reverently so:

The theatre table at Archiginnasio of Bologna
The theatre table at Archiginnasio of Bologna

Another look at the lecturer's stand at the Archiginnasio of Bologna
Another look at the lecturer’s stand at the Archiginnasio of Bologna

We moved on to a large meeting hall near the Theatre and it was filled with crests, books, pomp and circumstance:

A detailed coat of arms at the Another look at the lecturer's stand at the Archiginnasio of Bologna
A detailed coat of arms at the Another look at the lecturer’s stand at the Archiginnasio of Bologna

An entire wall filled with benefactors and wealthy Italian families from the Renaissance and also more recently.

The Sala dello Stabat Mater, is huge and contains many old books and more coat of arms
The Sala dello Stabat Mater, is huge and contains many old books and more coat of arms

After our visit to the Anatomical Theatre we walked around the corner and “by accident” found one of the sweetest, most amazing cafes we’ve seen in all our travels. The coffee was outstanding and the staff were full of real smiles and were so helpful we stayed that much longer. al Bricco d’oro blew us away!

After the Archiginnasio of Bologna we needed an espresso stop and this place, al Bricco d'oro was fantastic. Simple, humble, friendly - they were amazing
After the Archiginnasio of Bologna we needed an espresso stop and this place, al Bricco d’oro was fantastic. Simple, humble, friendly – they were amazing

Unfortunately, we hate smoking but smoking was everywhere, and you can buy cigs from machines on the street like this one. I did love how they looked, kind of freaky and futuristic (also reminding me of my childhood, there used to be machines like this in truck stops in the States):

You can get cigarettes from vending machines on the street in Italy, they are pretty cheap too, unfortunately
You can get cigarettes from vending machines on the street in Italy, they are pretty cheap too, unfortunately

There’s a portcullis around every corner:

A portcullis reminds you this is an ancient city, Bologna
A portcullis reminds you this is an ancient city, Bologna

Next was the free art gallery at the Bologna City Hall:

The stairs up to the gallery at Bologna City Hall
The stairs up to the gallery at Bologna City Hall

Inside there’s a church, and it’s high-ceilinged and awesome:

Inside Bologna City Hall there's a chapel, looking toward the pulpit
Inside Bologna City Hall there’s a chapel, looking toward the pulpit

Inside Bologna City Hall there's a chapel
Inside Bologna City Hall there’s a chapel

The Where’s Your Dunny Blog is not complete without a shot from inside the dunny, this a view from the window at the one in City Hall, upstairs:

The view from the upstairs toilet at the Bologna City Hall
The view from the upstairs toilet at the Bologna City Hall

Out in front of City Hall there’s a huge square, and the Fountain of Neptune:

The Fountain of Neptune from a distance
The Fountain of Neptune from a distance

Bologna City Hall, in the square with the Fountain of Neptune
Bologna City Hall, in the square with the Fountain of Neptune

Oh my gosh this has to be the best bookstore we’ve ever seen, it’s called Coop (co’op). It has several floors of books, and on each floor there are restaurants and a market on the top floor full of gluten-free and natural foods. I think it’s an old church or warehouse:

Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we've ever seen, inside is high ceilinged amazingness
Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we’ve ever seen, inside is high ceilinged amazingness

With infinite style and grace they saved part of the old wall, it must be from at least the Renaissance if not earlier:

Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we've ever seen, inside you can see the old walls
Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we’ve ever seen, inside you can see the old walls

Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we've ever seen, we found somewhere to sit
Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we’ve ever seen, we found somewhere to sit

We found two seats and camped out. Even though the books are in Italian it doesn’t matter, we could have stayed here all night. It was rainy, so why not:

Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we've ever seen
Coop, in Bologna, the most amazing bookstore we’ve ever seen
This building is typical of Bologna, fortified and beatiful at the same time
This building is typical of Bologna, fortified and beatiful at the same time

We came across the Piazzetta Francesco Molinari Pradelli what a cool artsy neighborhood, reminded us of Telleskivi in Tallinn, Estonia. Containers and art, sure, ok, that’s fine with us!

A container/art installation in the Saracca neighborhood, Bologna, some great street are
A container/art installation in the Saracca neighborhood, Bologna, some great street are

Some street art in Bologna
Some street art in Bologna
The inside of this clothing store in Bologna is amazing
The inside of this clothing store in Bologna is amazing
Walking back to our apartment from our day in Bologna
Walking back to our apartment from our day in Bologna

We went to the Bus Stop last so we could get our tickets to take us to the Lamborghini factory the next day; we like being early and prepared and it’s saved us a lot of heartache, planning in advance:

The Bologna bus station
The Bologna bus station

I’m hoping Alice uploads some more of her photos because these are all I got. The Lamborghini factory was the culmination of a life-long dream for Alice, when she was a kid she had posters of the cars on her walls and couldn’t stop talking about it. It’s very unassuming from the street, but the inside is immaculately clean, and their factory’s processes are state of the art; they have figured out how to mass-produce hand-built luxury cars.

Outside the Lamborgini factory
Outside the Lamborgini factory
Outside the Lamborgini factory, there's an entire car leaning on its side at the front entrance
Outside the Lamborgini factory, there’s an entire car leaning on its side at the front entrance

I love it when I can make Alice this happy!

Outside the Lamborgini factory, there's an entire car leaning on its side at the front entrance, a dream fulfilled for my wife Alice
Outside the Lamborgini factory, there’s an entire car leaning on its side at the front entrance, a dream fulfilled for my wife Alice

Bologna was fantastic, highly recommend it! And when you go, please stay at Andres’ apartment, Porta Galliera Apartment, book it on booking.com. It was perfect for us, so warm and comfortable and in the perfect location, just north of the Centro Storico.

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Nathaniel Flick

By: Nathaniel Flick