AphroChic Magazine: Issue No. 11

City Stories
Getting to Know Bologna
Bologna is a city with a long history, many lives and several
nicknames. That history stretches back more than 2,000 years to the
Etruscans and encompasses a line of occupants that was already long
— including the Boii, Romans and Goths — before its inclusion in
the Germanic kingdoms of first the Lombards and later the Frankish
Carolingians under Charlemagne, who would become the first Holy
Roman Emperor. The city experienced its share of internecine Italian
strife and Papal intrigue on its way to achieving a nominal independence
in 1183 from then-emperor Frederick I. Though influences
from the distant past continue to resonate today — some of the roads
in Old Town are said to still follow routes laid down by the ancient
Romans — the oldest parts of the city are from the so-called high
medieval period (1000-1300 AD) when it flourished as a center of
learning
As an education center, Bologna boasts an impressive resume,
having produced the influential medieval jurists Martinus Gosia,
Jacobus de Boragine, Bulgarus, and Hugo de Porta Ravennate, collectively
known as the Four Doctors of Bologna, along with early
humanist poet Petrarch and writer Dante Alighieri known for his
Divine Comedy. The University of Bologna, established some 935 years
ago in 1088, is Europe’s oldest, continually-active university, leading
the city to be dubbed La Dotta, or the Learned One. Today, the university’s
student population is credited for maintaining the city’s
lively and energetic atmosphere.
Where to Stay
As the largest city and capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of
northern Italy, Bologna offers lots of places to stay. But if you’re interested
in a walking tour, it’s a good idea to stay closer to the Old
City located in the city’s center. Better yet, you can stay within the
Old City’s walls. Don’t let the name and the Roman roads fool you.
Bologna’s Old City is an amazing juxtaposition of the medieval past
and the 21st century. Buildings built in the time of the Medicis, sitting
across expansive plazas and situated along high stone walls, hold
every modern business, service, and amenity from pharmacies and
movie theaters to trendy shopping opportunities. Hotels like the
Hotel Internazionale and Hotel I Portici, both located in the northern
section of the Old City, between Porta Mascarella and Porta Galliera,
offer quick access to some of Bologna’s most intriguing sights along
with luxury accommodations.
Where to Eat
If you’re a lover of pasta, then of course the answer is just about
anywhere — it’s Italy! And while sadly, the notion that Bologna is the
ancestral home of the famous Bolognese sauce is a myth — historians
actually bestow that honor on nearby Imola — the beloved ragù
76 aphrochic