Bologna is, quite simply, one of the best food cities on the planet.
The city somehow flies under the radar on many Italian itineraries – which is odd when you consider that it is widely regarded as Italy’s gastronomic capital. The medieval streets are packed with restaurants, trattorias, markets and delicatessens, all fiercely competing to produce the best versions of the country’s most famous dishes.
Spend a couple of days wandering the portico-lined streets, stopping frequently for plates of tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo and mortadella, and it quickly becomes clear why locals take their food so seriously here.
Beyond the food, Bologna is also one of Italy’s most attractive historic cities. The old town is full of terracotta buildings, leaning medieval towers, more than 40km of covered porticoes, many of which are UNESCO listed, and buzzing with the world’s oldest university at its heart.
But the food is the real draw.
In my view, Bologna ranks as the #2 food experience in the world, second only to San Sebastián in Spain. It beats other famous culinary cities because the quality is exceptional, the prices remain reasonable, and the whole thing still feels authentic rather than just curated for tourists.
