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Early evening is a magical time in Italy, when everyone comes outside to walk the streets — that evening ritual is called the passeggiata, and it goes on throughout the country.
Then darkness falls. Bologna, as fascinating a city as it is during the day, becomes positively magical at night. Here are some of my favorite photos.
Bologna is, first and foremost, a food city — and the streets are dotted with fruit and vegetable stands. Do not touch the produce under any circumstances — it’s a major faux pas in Italy.
I spoke earlier about Bologna’s trademark arches, but I just need to reiterate how much I love them! They keep you cool in the summer, warm in the winter, shielded from the rain and sun, and they provide a great subject to photograph at night.
It’s hard for me to walk past a bookstore and not go in. When I saw this tiny bookstore, looking like it belonged in the pages of a storybook, my heart literally ached. I wonder what it was like inside.
I thought these thick doorway arches were interesting — I don’t recall seeing these elsewhere in Italy, but I saw them in several different towns in Emilia-Romagna.
I could spend all night looking in the windows of the food shops. Despite how many Bologna has, each of them seem to have starkly different products for sale.
I don’t know what it was about this car park at this angle…it just looked so beautiful to me, so perfectly Italian.
When night falls in Bologna, don’t ensconce yourself in your room. Get out and walk around. It’s a whole different side of Italy.
Many thanks to Emilia-Romagna Tourism and Wilde PR for hosting me on the Delicious Emilia-Romagna Blog Trip. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Great pictures, Italy is a magical place and Bologna is especially fantastic locale due to the lack of tourists. Thanks for all the pictures and updates, makes me hungry!
I’m Jealous- My travels have brought me to a full time job in China (A very cool job though), your travels have brought you to …more travel!
I love these night photos, they look great. I totally hear you on the bookstore, I hope you got to go inside.
Kate,
Thanks so much for your stories about Bologna. Because of you, it’s definitely going to be a stop on my own big trip next year. I should be going in April or May and am already saving up so I have cash on hand for the good food. Thanks for being such a travel inspiration!
I’m so happy to hear that, Marilyn!
I have always been interested in visiting this region, especially after hearing about it over and over again on the Frommer’s forum. Your posts about it have really convinced me! I agree about the energy of a place at night, and Bologna seems to really have something special at that time of day.
Kate, you touched the produce, didn’t you? 🙂
Thanks for your lovely photos of Bologna!
I love the cities in this area. Haven’t been to Bologna but it reminds me of both Lucca and Modena. Have to go back soon. Nothing like having some gelato under a clear night sky…
My Italian heart is aching (I am not Italian, however my heart is), I will just make myself a strong black coffee and have another look at these b e a u t i f u l photos. sob
Looks perfect! We are planning a Euro-adventure next spring/summer, and you have sold me on Bologna 😉
Love to watch the pictures! Always remembers me on this fantastic blog trip.
Fantastic and FLAWLESS blog trip. I still can’t believe how perfectly organized and run it was!
Sweet pictures Kate, can’t wait to see Spain. I have a thing for perspective, lines and arches, so I love the picture of Spain’s arches! What camera are you using?
Ryan, you do know this is in Italy, right?
Whoopsies. Why the Hell did I write Spain?! I just realized that too, maybe I was previously looking at a stumble upon of Spain or something. Blonde moment =P
Bologna look like a great place to visit. I hope to get there some day.
That is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing 🙂