Fun facts about Bologna:
15 things you (probably) didn’t know

The world’s oldest university is in Bologna

It’s not a myth: the University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is considered the oldest university in the world still in operation. Before Christopher Columbus was even born, scholars in Bologna were already debating Roman law, medicine and philosophy. Today it has over 90,000 students and gives the city its distinctive intellectual energy.

Bologna’s porticoes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site

With 62 kilometres of urban porticoes, Bologna holds a world record. Since 2021, the porticoes of Bologna have been officially listed as UNESCO World Heritage. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages: private owners extended the upper floors of their houses over the public street, creating covered galleries where city life carried on sheltered from rain and sun. The Portico di San Luca, at 3.8 km and 666 arches, is the longest covered portico in the world.

The Asinelli Tower leans — and you can still climb it

Bologna has two medieval towers that symbolise the city: the Asinelli Tower (97.2 m) and the Garisenda Tower (48 m). Both lean. The Garisenda is so tilted — over 3 metres out of plumb — that it was shortened for safety reasons back in the 14th century. Dante mentioned it in the Divine Comedy. The Asinelli Tower can still be climbed: 498 steps for a breathtaking view over rooftops and porticoes.

Mortadella was born here — and it has its own protected status

Mortadella Bologna IGP has no upper weight limit: the largest one ever made weighed over 1,200 kg. The original recipe dates back to the 17th century: finely ground pork, lard, spices and pistachios. Those little flecks of fat aren’t a flaw — they’re the signature.

Bologna has a visitable underground canal system

Beneath the streets of the historic centre, medieval canals still flow — once part of a water system that powered mills and dye works. The Reno canal and the Navile canal are still partly visible, and in some spots you can see water running through grates in the pavement. Guided tours let you explore this forgotten hydraulic network.

The original Bolognese ragù barely contains tomato

The official registered recipe for ragù alla bolognese — filed by the Confraternita del Tortellino with the Bologna Chamber of Commerce in 1982 — calls for beef, pancetta, onion, carrot, celery, white wine, milk and just a touch of tomato purée. No spaghetti either: proper Bolognese ragù is served with egg tagliatelle. The perfect tagliatella width? About 8 mm — precisely 1/12,270th of the height of the Asinelli Tower.

Italy’s most famous Neptune is in Bologna

The Fountain of Neptune, created by Giambologna in 1566, is one of the Renaissance’s great masterpieces. The pope of the time was reportedly so scandalised by its anatomical realism that he demanded changes. Giambologna found a clever workaround: positioning the god’s thumb in just the right way creates a surprising optical illusion — visitors still try to find the right angle.

Bologna was the first Italian city with public lighting

In 1796, under Napoleon, Bologna became the first Italian city to install a public street lighting system using oil lamps — a forgotten first that says a lot about the city’s practical, innovative spirit.

Tortellini come with a love legend

Legend has it that tortellini were invented by an innkeeper inspired by the navel of Lucrezia Borgia (or the Virgin Mary, depending on the version). Tortellini di Bologna follow precise dimensions: paper-thin pasta filled with pork loin, prosciutto, mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano and nutmeg — and they must be served in capon broth.

One of Italy’s first railways ran through Bologna

In 1844, the Bologna–Padua railway line opened — one of the first in Italy. Today, Bologna Centrale is Italy’s second-busiest rail hub, a key junction on the high-speed line between northern and southern Italy.

Bologna’s red colour isn’t paint

The reddish hue of Bologna’s buildings comes from terracotta brick typical of the Po Valley, fired with local iron-rich clay that gives it that characteristic orange-red tone. That’s where the nickname “la Rossa” — the red one — comes from. Every building in the historic centre follows this centuries-old building tradition.

One of Europe’s first computers was built in Bologna

In 1955, the University of Bologna built the Elea, one of Italy’s first electronic calculators. Today, Bologna is home to CINECA, one of Europe’s most powerful supercomputing centres.

Europe’s oldest trade fair started near Bologna

The Fiera di San Bartolomeo, one of Europe’s oldest trade fairs, was already taking place in the area around Bologna in the 13th century. The modern BolognaFiere exhibition centre is the direct heir to this centuries-old tradition.

San Petronio isn’t buried in his own basilica

The Basilica of San Petronio in Piazza Maggiore has the fifth-tallest vault among Gothic churches in the world. But San Petronio himself isn’t buried there — his relics rest in the Basilica of Santo Stefano, in the so-called “Bologna Jerusalem,” a complex of seven medieval churches.

Bologna is Italy’s food capital

Emilia-Romagna has the highest number of Michelin stars per capita in Italy, and Bologna is its culinary capital. Between historic trattorias, century-old delis and innovative restaurants, eating well in Bologna isn’t a possibility — it’s a certainty. Mercato di Mezzo and the Quadrilatero district are the perfect places to start exploring.