Bologna is a historic city located in the heart of Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. Known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine, Bologna is one of the most fascinating cities in the country.
Founded by the Etruscans and later developed by the Romans, Bologna boasts a historical heritage reflected in its architecture, monuments, and museums.
San Giorgio in Poggiale Church
The Church of San Giorgio in Poggiale houses the Art and History Library of San Giorgio, which has been preserving the extensive book heritage of the Cassa di Risparmio Foundation in Bologna since 2009. It also hosts important contemporary art works: Campo dei Fiori and the last monumental Delocation by Claudio Parmiggiani, as well as the Cathedral cycle by Piero Pizzi Cannella. The library, whose layout was designed by the architect Michele De Lucchi, is also home to exhibitions and cultural events.
Built in the 13th century with bricks, the gate originally had guard accommodations and a drawbridge added in 1354. Between 1952 and 1959, parts of the walls were demolished to improve traffic flow.
Via Zamboni, one of the oldest streets in Bologna, had a different appearance in the 18th century. From the Two Towers to the Gate, there were aristocratic palaces and the church of San Giacomo with the Jesuit convent. The square in front of the municipal theater divided the noble area from the popular one. In the 16th century, the area was known as Piazza di Bentivogli, near the palace of Giovanni II Bentivoglio, which was destroyed in 1507. The square was commonly called Piazza del Teatro and was officially renamed Piazza Giuseppe Verdi in 1951.
Teatro Duse is one of the oldest theaters in Bologna, known as the city’s prose theater. Located in the Palazzo del Giglio on Via Cartoleria, it originally hosted the San Saverio theater for school performances by a Jesuit college since the mid-17th century. In 1822, engineer Antonio Brunetti took over the hall, renaming it Teatro Brunetti, initially dedicated to puppet shows and circus performances.
After Brunetti’s death, his nephews renovated the theater, which reopened in 1865 with two tiers of galleries, a loggia, and gas lighting. Teatro Brunetti, with its programming of prose, opera, operetta, and concerts, soon became one of the most important theaters in Bologna, hosting King Umberto I, Queen Margherita, and two performances by Sarah Bernhardt in 1878.
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