Bologna - highlights?

Some suggestions:

• Archiginnasio Palace and Anatomical Theater
• Biblioteca Comunale dell’Archiginnasio
• Archaelogical Museum
• walking under the many porticoes
• since climbing up one of the Two Towers is no longer possible, climb the Clock Tower (Torre dell’Orologio)
• do a food tour or visit Mercato di Mezzo and Mercato delle Erbe

we did a day trip to Bologna from Florence this last fall and so I googled 'a day in Bologna' and found 3 different blog posts giving a one day itinerary. I looked at all of them and ended up choosing this one and pretty much following it except we didn't hang around for dinner and went somewhere else for lunch as the place they recommend is a butcher shop and didn't seem prepared to offer a board or a seat. We had a charcuterie/cheese board at a cafe which was fine.
https://thetravelfolk.com/one-day-in-bologna/
The highlight was the University library and anatomical dissection room; Bologna is the oldest university in Europe and it was stunning. We also enjoyed the multiple church complex and the Cathedral with its horrifying fresco of hell. A beautiful town.

I just had the itinerary on my phone and it was easy to follow.

For a lover of visual arts maybe the Fondazione Cirulli could a place to don't miss. https://www.fondazionecirulli.org/mostre/in-corso/
Why not the MAST Fundation? https://www.mast.org/
Jack Vettriano exhibition: https://www.palazzopallavicini.com/

Not Bologna, but in Ferrara there is at palazzo Diamanti the exhibition of Mucha and Boldrini: https://www.palazzodiamanti.it

In addition to places already mentioned:
Piazza Maggiore and adjoining Piazza Neptune. -- for walking around and people watching.
Santo Stefano seven churches complex. There are now only 4 churches there but parts of the complex are as old as the 5th centur;y.
If you enjoy walking tours, I recommend the Visitor Center's walking tour (15 euro) for an overview.

For us, the highlight in Bologna was the all day food and factory tour with Italian Days. It’s not cheap though.

Somre arty, sightly off-piste suggestions for your student:

The Bologna Photography Museum often has interesting exhibits - whether the one on while you are there interests you is up to you.
https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/events/exhibitions/bologna-fotografata-en

There is also a "photographic studio workspace" that has happenings as you would expect in a University town.
https://phmuseumlab.com/

Art space and super green restaurant in the city parks old green house space: https://leserredeigiardini.it/
https://www.tastebologna.net/blog/kilowatt-summer-giardini-margherita-aperitivo

Bologna's Modern Art Museum: https://www.museibologna.it/mambo/

Check the schedule of events when you get closer:
https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/events-all/exhibitions

Have a greta trip!
=Tod

I just stayed in Bologna for a week. I highly recommend the University Museums and specifically the Museum of Pallazo Poggi.

Also, the Lamentation of the Death of Christ in the Santa Maria Della Vita and this museum was good - Museo Civico Medievale. There is a musical instrument museum that looked cool, but we didn’t have a chance to go - complex of San Colombano, tagliavini Collection.

Fun restaurant in a tower - trattoria da me Nella Torre.

If you are at the Neptune fountain - go to the library that is right there and in the basement you can see the Roman Ruins.

Be sure to read the Italian domestic terrorism memorial at the train station. It’s a cautionary tale for anyone who might think that 9/11 has no parallels in other countries. Europe had some tough decades.

The modern art museum is weak. Don’t waste your time.
The Music Museum is great.
We have spent 2x5 nights in Bologna and will spent 5 nights there this November. We love Bologna.