BOLOGNA

I spent a great day exploring this city of porticoes and visiting my two Stanford buddies Joel and Ned.
BOLOGNA’s colored houses, infinite porticoes, impressive monuments, and famous stuffed pastas make this city a marvel. Have lunch at Il Portico on Via Augusto Righi in Bologna’s “Little Venice” (search for the small canal on Via Piella). Piazza Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore are great for people watching en route to the Duomo, but make sure you aren’t carrying a backpack and your purse isn’t too bulky when visiting the imposing Basilica di S. Petronio. Definitely don’t miss the expansive Chiesa Santa Stefano (seven churches and temples built together) as well as the long climb up Torre di Asinelli for an amazing bird’s eye view of the whole city beneath you. Catch your breath at Il Gelatauro near the university, which boasts creative flavors and excellent granita. For those interested in art, check out the Pinacoteca Nazionale for medieval, Renaissance, and Mannerist works. Another attraction is the hilltop hike up to Santuario della Madonna di San Luca under 666 porticoes starting near Via Saragozza.