Itinerario 1 – Tour Classico di Bologna

1.Bologna – Half-day walking tour
Piazza Maggiore (The main square) and Piazza Nettuno: Palazzo Comunale (the City Hall) and
other important public buildings such as Palazzo Re Enzo, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo dei Banchi,
Palazzo dei Notai; Basilica di San Petronio, (a late gothic masterpiece designed by the architect
Antonio di Vincenzo); Fontana del Nettuno (The Neptune Fountain, a wonderful late Renaissance
fountain with sculptures by Jean de Boulogne). The Archiginnasio Palace, Renaissance seat of
Bologna’s University, and home to the wonderful, baroque Anatomical Theater, where doctors
would lecture students of medicine in the XVI and XVII centuries.
The old market quarters, with the best food stores and the delightful Bolognese food specialties.
Then we will admire the Piazza and the religious complex of Santo Stefano (a medieval group of
seven churches, also called the “New Jerusalem” of Bologna), Piazza della Mercanzia (with the
beautiful gothic Merchant’s Guild Palace) and the famous medieval Garisenda and Asinelli towers,
symbols of the city.
2.Bologna – Half-day walking tours with S. Domenico Church
Piazza Maggiore (The main square) and Piazza Nettuno: Palazzo Comunale (the City Hall) and
other important civic buildings such as Palazzo Re Enzo, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo dei Banchi,
Palazzo dei Notai; Basilica di San Petronio, (a late gothic masterpiece designed by the architect
Antonio di Vincenzo); Fontana del Nettuno (The Neptune Fountain, a wonderful late Renaissance
fountain with sculptures by Giambologna). The Archiginnasio Palace, Renaissance seat of
Bologna’s University, and home to the wonderful, baroque Anatomical Theater, where doctors
would lecture students of medicine in the XVI and XVII centuries. We reach the famous medieval
Garisenda and Asinelli towers, symbols of the city. Finally, we visit the Basilica of San Domenico
with the Arca, the tomb of the founder of the Dominican order, who died in Bologna in 1221. This
monument is a masterpiece of sculpture carved by Nicola Pisano, Nicolò dell’Arca, and
Michelangelo across the centuries.
3. Pinacoteca Nazionale (National Picture-Gallery) of Bologna
The Pinacoteca offers the following sections:
13th and 14th centuries painting - the most important Bolognese artist in this period is Vitale da
Bologna. This section also hosts the "Polyptych with Holy Virgin and saints", the only work by
Giotto in Bologna.
Renaissance -This section features works by early Renaissance painters, such as Francesco del
Cossa, Lorenzo Costa and Francesco Francia, who was the one who expressed the Humanism
during the administration of the Bentivoglio family. you can admire the well-know "Ecstasy of St.
Cecilia" by Raffaello, "Holy Virgin with the infant Jesus and Saints" by Perugino and the "Visitation"
by Tintoretto.
Mannerism - It includes the works of artists of the second half of the 16th century, among which
Federico Barocci, Bartolomeo Passerotti, Giorgio Vasari, Prospero Fontana e Bartolomeo Cesi.
The Carracci – This section contains most important works of art by Ludovico, Annibale and
Agostino Carracci. Around the end of the 16th century the Carracci founded an Art Academy, the
Accademia degli Incamminati. Their purpose was reforming art going back to "nature".
Guido Reni – He is the main representative of the Bolognese Classical painting in the 17th century
(his masterpieces are: "Crucifixion", the "Triumphant Samson", the "Pietà dei Mendicanti" and the
"Slaughter of the Innocents")
Baroque age and 18th century - Various rooms host paintings by Guercino and other painters who
belong to the Bolognese art school of the 17th century. As far as the 18th century painting is
concerned, worth mentioning are Carlo Cignani, who embodied the academic tradition, Giuseppe
Maria Crespi, for his spontaneous painting and the Gandolfi brothers, who are the protagonists of
the late 18th century Bolognese art.
4.One-day tour in Ravenna
The tour includes a visit to the most significant Early-Christian and Byzantine monuments of
Ravenna: the Church of S.Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Piazza del Popolo (the main
square with the 15th century Town Hall), the Tomb of Dante, the Church of S. Francis with its
waterlogged crypt featuring ancient floor mosaics, and the Basilica of S.Apollinare Nuovo.
Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant .
5.A medieval painted village: Dozza
Transfer from Bologna by bus along the Via Emilia; visit to the medieval village, painted with
murals, the Fortress and Enoteca Regionale.
Entrance fees:
- Fortress: 5 euros (4 euros for groups of at least 15 people)
- Enoteca Regionale: free entrance, a fee is required for guided wine tasting Tel. 0542
678089)
Local wines: Sangiovese, the flagship red wine of the area, Pignoletto (from grapes grown on
Bologna’s hills, a usually semi-sparkling white suitable for starters) and Albana passita, obtained
from grapes left to dry on the plant or on mats to achieve a sweet and well-balanced wine to be
matched with dry pastries and ripe cheese.
6.Half-day walking tour in Ferrara
A walk in the city centre along medieval streets such as "via delle Volte", the Jewish Quarter and
the main square with the Cathedral and the City Hall (in the past the residence of the dukes of
Ferrara), and the Castle, the symbol of the Este family power and of the city; built in the XIV
century as a fortress, it became then residence of the Este Family. It is possible to visit the ancient
prisons and the apartments of the Dukes decorated with XVI century frescoes. We will follow the
Renaissance street "via Ercole I d'Este" till Palazzo dei Diamanti one of the palaces with greater
fame in the Italian Renaissance.
7.One day tour :the Michelangelo Florence
Florence will be reached by train (37 minutes)
The tour includes a walking visit to the most significant monuments of Florence in order to join
the Academia with the visit of the important masterpieces of Michelangelo: David and the
Prisoners, followed by the visit of the Medici Chapels with the significant “Sacrestia Nuova”
Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant .

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