2020-03-01 The Simple Things

MY CITY

How long have you lived in Bologna?

Since 1996, when I came here to study. After

graduation, I moved to Milan for a short time,

but as soon as I got offered a job in Bologna, I came

back. Even though I’ve travelled a lot for work and

often visit my parents in Conegliano Veneto – a quiet

town around 50km north of Venice, where I grew

up – Bologna is where I call ‘home’.

Tell us what makes your city unique.

Bologna is a beautiful historic city with an exciting

mix of culture and arts. It’s a place where you quickly

feel at ease, thanks to its people and their welcoming,

easy-going attitude. Owing to its location in the

middle of Italy, Bologna has always been a crossroads,

making it ideal for commerce, but also for cultural

intersections. Being home to the oldest university

in Europe means it was a special place to study.

It’s normal in Bologna to meet people from every

part of Italy and from many other countries, too.

What’s it like in spring?

Bologna is a very green city, with lots of public parks

and surrounded by rolling hills, so spring is an amazing

time with the landscape made vibrant with colour.

Even in the city centre you can smell the heady scent

of blossom; it’s definitely my favourite time of year.

What time of day do you most enjoy?

In the early morning, the city is unusually quiet. In

spring, it might be a bit chilly first thing, but when

the sun rises, it soon warms up and the city turns

from pastel shades to bright colours. I like to walk

in Piazza Maggiore when nobody else is around,

then have a coffee in a bar on a side street of the

Quadrilatero (the historic quarter) while all the

local markets and old shops are starting to open.

What’s the nature like?

Bologna sits on a plain and is surrounded by beautiful

hills, creating an evocative landscape. Under the city

there are branches of the Reno canal, which was once

a vital channel for trade and transport. Nowadays,

there are only a few places where you can catch a

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* There’s no better way to get to the heart

of a city than through the people who

live there. Every month we ask someone,

clearly in love with their city, to take us

on a personal tour and tell us what makes

it so special. You may feel inspired to visit

one day or to rediscover the charms of a

city closer to you, but for now just sit back,

relax and enjoy some armchair travel.

4

(^1) Who needs TV
when you can sit
watching the colours
of Piazza Maggiore
change in the sun?
(^2) Remind yourself
that this is the pay-off
as you’re climbing
Torre degli Asinelli.
(^3) Sadly not scratch-
and-sniff, so imagine
how good Bologna’s
blossom smells.
(^4) A hit of free art
at Dozza Imolese.
(^5) The lesser-sighted
Reno canal
MY CITY
Howlonghaveyoulivedin Bologna?
Since1996,whenI cameheretostudy.After
graduation,I movedtoMilanfora shorttime,
butassoonasI gotoffereda jobinBologna,I came
back.EventhoughI’vetravelleda lotforworkand
oftenvisitmyparentsinConeglianoVeneto– a quiet
townaround50kmnorthofVenice,whereI grew
up– BolognaiswhereI call‘home’.
Telluswhatmakesyourcityunique.
Bolognaisa beautifulhistoriccitywithanexciting
mixofcultureandarts.It’sa placewhereyouquickly
feelatease,thankstoitspeopleandtheirwelcoming,
easy-goingattitude.Owingtoitslocationinthe
middleofItaly,Bolognahasalwaysbeena crossroads,
makingit idealforcommerce,butalsoforcultural
intersections.Beinghometotheoldestuniversity
inEuropemeansit wasa specialplacetostudy.
It’snormalinBolognatomeetpeoplefromevery
partofItalyandfrommanyothercountries,too.
What’sit likein spring?
Bolognaisa verygreencity,withlotsofpublicparks
andsurroundedbyrollinghills,sospringisanamazing
timewiththelandscapemadevibrantwithcolour.
Eveninthecitycentreyoucansmelltheheadyscent
ofblossom;it’sdefinitelymyfavouritetimeofyear.
Whattimeofdaydoyoumostenjoy?
Intheearlymorning,thecityisunusuallyquiet.In
spring,it mightbea bitchillyfirstthing,butwhen
thesunrises,it soonwarmsupandthecityturns
frompastelshadestobrightcolours.I liketowalk
inPiazzaMaggiorewhennobodyelseisaround,
thenhavea coffeeina barona sidestreetofthe
Quadrilatero(thehistoricquarter)whileallthe
localmarketsandoldshopsarestartingtoopen.
What’sthenaturelike?
Bolognasitsona plainandissurroundedbybeautiful
hills,creatinganevocativelandscape.Underthecity
therearebranchesoftheRenocanal,whichwasonce
a vitalchannelfortradeandtransport.Nowadays,
thereareonlya fewplaceswhereyoucancatcha
2
3
5
»

• There’s no better way to get to the heart
  of a city than through the people who
  live there. Every month we ask someone,
  clearly in love with their city, to take us
  on a personal tour and tell us what makes
  it so special. You may feel inspired to visit
  one day or to rediscover the charms of a
  city closer to you, but for now just sit back,
  relax and enjoy some armchair travel.
  4
  (^1) Who needs TV
  when you can sit
  watching the colours
  ofPiazzaMaggiore
  changein thesun?
  (^2) Remind yourself
  that this is the pay-off
  asyou’reclimbing
  TorredegliAsinelli.
  (^3) Sadly not scratch-
  and-sniff, so imagine
  howgoodBologna’s
  blossomsmells.
  (^4) A hitoffreeart
  at DozzaImolese.
  (^5) The lesser-sighted
  Reno canal