"Bologna - The Twin Towers" a Bologna Travel Page by Willettsworld

Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, between the Po River and the Apennines. Bologna was founded by the Etruscans with the name Felsina (ca. 534 BC). Next the city was a Gaulic and then a Roman colony (ca. 189 BC) known as Bononia, which survived as a medieval city to become a centre of scholasticim and then a major city of the Renaissance papal states.

The historic city centre of Bologna is a handsome ensemble of brick buildings and charming porticoed streets. Medieval palaces are clustered around the two central squares, Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno, flanked to the south by the churches of San Petronio and San Domenico. The university of Bologna is the oldest in Europe (founded in 1088) and the Archiginnasio was its first official building. Further afield, the skyline is dominated by the twin towers of Asinelli and Garisenda.

Bologna is renowned for its culinary tradition and it is often regarded as the food capital of Italy. Situated in the fertile Po River Valley, the rich local cuisine depends heavily on meats and cheeses. As in all of Emilia-Romagna, the production of cured pork meats such as prosciutto, mortadella and salame is an important part of the local food industry. Reputed nearby vineyards include Pignoletto dei Colli Bolognesi, Lambrusco di Modena and Sangiovese di Romagna. Tagliatelle al ragł (pasta with meat sauce, from which the famous spaghetti alla Bolognese derive), tortellini served in broth, and mortadella (the original Bologna sausage) are among the local specialties.