The Retired Shows: Bologna, Italy!

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Bologna, Italy!

April 28 - May 6
Don was asked to work with the NBA in Bologna, Italy. There are to be 59 campers and 21 coaches from all over Europe and Middle East.

Flight pattern: Sunday, April 28 depart from Denver at 4:10 pm and 9 1/2 hours later land in Munich at 9:50 am Monday, April 29. A one hour flight from Munich at 11:35 to Bologna where it will be 12:35. Bologna will be 8 hours ahead of Colorado MT. We will be staying at AC Marriott Bologna Hotel.

Bologna city center
We were a short taxi ride to the city center of Bologna where all the historic churches, buildings, statues, restaurants, and miles of porticoles (covered walkways). Every time Don would get a couple hours off between work we would go there.
At the central square in Bologna, the Piazza Maggiore is located right in the center of the city and serves as an important historic place. The square is packed full of important buildings and the famous Fountain of Neptune which was built between 1563 and 1566.

Piazza Maggiore and Fountain of Neptune

Fountain of Neptune

Piazza Maggiore

Cathedral of San Pietro - Church
The first church we approached on the way to the Piazza Maggiore was this cathedral. The interior was beautiful and a man was playing the organ as we visited. We walked the narrow climb to the top of the bell tower.

Climbing the bell tower

Basicilia San Petronio - Church
This immense structure stands as the 10th largest church in the world by volume and presents a domineering presence in the center of the Piazza Maggiore. Originally constructed in 1388 through to 1479, the church has never been truly finished and its front facade is quite bizarre - the lower half features colored marble stone, while the top half remains bare with exposed brown brickwork.

Santa Maria della Vita - Church

The Leaning Towers of Bologna
Bologna has about twenty towers remaining in the city and actually has a pair of leaning towers and one is taller than the iconic tower at Pisa. Asinelli and Garisenda are two tall towers that stand next to each other and are both names after important Italian families.

Salaborsa
Once part of the Accursio Palace, the Salaborsa is now in its new role as library.

Exploring the Porticoes
Bologna is famed for its extensive Portico - A Portico is essentially a partially enclosed walkway that is lined with arches and columns. Within the confines of the city center you can walk through 40 km of corridors.

City Hall

Piazza Santo Stefano

Even though it is mainly considered as a square, it leads to the monumental group of buildings named after the same Saint. It features several different buildings including the Church of Saint John the Baptist, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the courtyard of Pilate. As you walk through the first church, you might think that it is just one building, but as you step into the main arched courtyard you can see the various buildings. It's seven buildings in one.

Monte della Guardia & Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca
The longest portico in the world leads up to the top of Monte della Guardia. This forested hills provide a great view of the surrounding area. The delightful Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is perched on top of the hill and a fantastic church to visit. It is one of the oldest churches in Bologna and was first created in 1194 but not finished until 1765. Inside the church is an icon of the Virgin Mary that was supposedly painted by Luke the Evangelist.

The Food
Lots of pasta of all kinds and sauces! The pasta dish is considered first course and then the entree. We usually started with appetizers, then pasta, then the entree, and finished with dessert. Pizza is also very common. An afternoon gelato in a cone is a must have.