Bologna, Italy

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Visitors to Italy will find the city of Bologna to be a pleasant place to pass their vacation time in. You will find this city is the capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region which lies in the Po Valley. The city which is situated in Northern Italy can be found lying between the Reno River and that of the Savena River. Exploring the city of Bologna will reveal to you are city which has a rich culture, history and all of the amenities which makes visiting this city a pleasure to the senses.

As you arrive in Bologna you will see a number of interesting places that you can visit. There will also be parks, fountains statues that you can look at. In order to see all of these sights you may want to become better acquainted with the city and its sights. To help you relax from your long trip you may want to relax in one of the city's many parks. Many of the parks you will find in Bologna today used to be private gardens which used belong to the nobles of the city.

Of these various gardens you may wish to the Giardini Margherita park or as it is called in English the Margherita Gardens. The gardens and the chalet that you will see here were created in 1875. The chalet is used today as a nightclub during the summer evenings. Visitors to this lovely park will find that it is opened from 6 in the morning until midnight. This is only one of the many parks that you can explore while you are in Bologna. From these numerous parks you may wish to see some of the religious buildings that you will find in the city.

One such place you may wish to visit during your sightseeing excursions is that of the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca or St. Luke's Basilica. This basilica was built during the mid-18th century. Within this basilica you will be able to see the icon of Bologna which is known as the Madonna di San Luca. The shape of this basilica is somewhat unusual as it is round instead of rectangular. You will be able to reach the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca by walking along the unique portico with its 666 arches. As you walk long these arches you will be able to see a stunning view of the city.

Your next stop here in Bologna should be that of the Fontana di Nettuno - the Fountain of Neptune as it is called in English - which was built in 1563. This fountain is considered to be one of Bologna's symbols. It was built by Tommaso Laureti of Palermo. The embellishments you will find on the fountain were added on later by Jean de Boulogne or as he was also called Giambologna.

These are just a few of the beauties that you will find when you come and visit Bologna in Italy. The rich culture and history you will find here go hand in hand with the warmth and hospitality of the people of this city. The next time you are thinking about visiting Italy make sure you book your holiday for some quality time spent in Bologna.

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