Cambridge Advance (C1) Report: a day in Bologna

Juan Sánchez Martín (C1)

REPORT : A BRIEF TRAVEL GUIDE TO BOLOGNA

It is common knowledge that Italy is one of the most touristic countries in the world : its unparalleled cultural heritage, its worldwide famous gastronomy and the genuine temper of their inhabitants make this country undoubtedly attractive for those who are enthralled by the beauty of the old continent.

However, in spite of the tourist dollars, this touristic success is starting to be a worrisome trend, as some visitors can be let down by the constant invasion of swarming travelers, the abusive prices  and the harassment of souvenir vendors. Notwithstanding that, if you are willing to avoid the most popular destinations in order not to be deprived of tasting the authentic Italy, there's a gorgeous city that remains undiscovered for the average tourist : Bologna.

Easily accessible for the international traveler thanks to its international airport and its placement between Firenze and Venice, Bologna is an entirely surprising city. As soon as he arrives, the visitor will notice that here the overwhelming horde of tourists has been replaced by groups of amusing youngsters hanging around and enlivening the city : what's more, according to the last surveys, there are almost 80.000 students living in Bologna. It is no wonder that the city attracts so many students from all around the world, as its college is not only a household name one but the oldest university in the world, created in the 11th Century. Hence, it is striking to wander the same classrooms where historical thinkers such as Dante, Copernicus, Thomas Beckett or Erasmus of Rotterdam attended their lectures.

Although he city owes its most popular nickname ,"la docta" (which means "the wise one") to its ancient university, the city is also known in Italy as "la grossa" (literally "the fat one") by virtue of its unrivalled gastronomy. Therefore, if you are into Italian food, the lavish meals served in the humble familiar restaurants which can be found all around the city will knock your socks off.

On top of that, the exuberant architecture of the city is also remarkable : the Piazza Maggiore, the most important square of the city where the stunning city hall and the huge, eternally unfinished cathedral are placed is a sight to behold. Furthermore, the city skyline is dominated by the impressive Asinelli tower, a medieval skyscraper that reaches a height of 100 meters.

To sum up, Bologna is a compulsory visit for any traveler interested in leaving overwhelmingly crowded cities like Rome or Firenze behind and decompress by having a walk around the fascinating alleys of this compelling city surrounded by the delightful smell of a homemade lassagna alla bolognese . Buon viaggio!

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