Bologna
14 June 2017
Time for the next leg of my trip. I would be travelling alone to Bologna and Parma. Bologna would be a day trip and I would stay in Parma for 2 nights as it was considerably cheaper than the University town.
They announce trains and platform numbers in Italian in Italy. Obviously. And even though I reached early and double checked my platform number, and waited for 15 minutes, I still did a little bit of running at the last minute - only to come back to the original platform...Thanks to some Indians.:D
Bologna - university town. It is covered with miles and miles of shaded pathways lined with shops.
My daughter had spent 3 days here last summer. I wanted to see what was there in Bologna other than their famous bolognese sauce, which I would not eat (anyway) as it is made with beef.
On researching over YouTube and Trip Advisor, I found that the main square (about a kilometer from the railway station) is the main point to start from. I was proceeding to Parma next and had 2-3 change of clothes and other stuff in my backpack. I dropped it off at the 'left luggage' at the station.
From here, I walked towards Piazza Maggiore. I had heard about the 'unfindable' / obscured by renovation 'Bologna Welcome'. I went there and got hold of a map with recommended walking route.
At Piazza Maggiore is the half done / unfinished Basilica di San Petronio. This would have become the greatest church of the Western Christian world outdoing the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It's work was halted by Pope Pius IV. The bottom part is laid with white and red marble, but the upper part is just bricks.
I went in search of Neptune's fountain. People kept pointing me to a place and only later did I realise that it was covered with scaffolding as it was being renovated.
Next stop was Basilica San Domenica - renowned for having inside the tomb of Saint Dominic (the creator of the Dominicans order). There is also an angel carved by Michelangelo here.
From here I walked back via Garibaldi and saw this carving on a lamp post.
Bologna and Modena say Tortelloni is theirs. This was taken at a shop which sells Pasta in various shapes.
Then I saw the famous 'Towers of Bologna'. Both are leaning and one is half fallen. Around this side is the university area.
But the walking tour recommended me to walk back to see this. Biblioteca Salaborsa. It is at present a municipal library, but was a stock exchange before.
You can see the original Roman foundations through the new glass floors.
It was almost lunch time and I had heard so much about a food market in Bologna - Mercato di mezzo, that I headed that way.
Interesting but disappointing.
The call for food was getting louder and I had not found a good place yet. So I walked around and during my search found these. Stars like in Hollywood walkway.
A bakery selling Bolognian items.
Cheese!!
Then I found the right place on via Altabella. Brilliant lunch.
Did you know that the Meridian passes through the church of San Petronio? I went in to see it. Entry is free. But if you wish to take photographs, you must pay 2 Euros to get an orange wrist band.
There is another entrance fee of 3 euros to be paid if you wish to visit the chapel of Magi. There is a picture of Heaven and hell here, which is supposed to be very accurate. At the very top is heaven with the holy Father. And if you look carefully at the very bottom is the black figure of Lucifer. It was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy.
I got the following 2 images from the internet.
Since the tower which I could climb up would open only at 3 pm, I took a stroll through the streets of Bologna.
Then at 3, I was siphoned up to the top of "Terrazza di San Petronio". And the view was beautiful, but the sun was really beating down.
It was almost time for me to take the train to Parma. I still had one sight to see. So I followed the map and....
Are we in Venice???
This is Little Venice in Bologna! It is on Via piella.
Meet Mr.Garibaldi on his horse.
And this is quite true, right?
The following is the route map, in case you are interested. I did a total of 5.6 kms....but NOT in 1 hour. There was so much to see.
I collected my bags from the Left Luggage and boarded my train to Parma.
After reaching Parma, I took a long time to reach my B&B.
The Parma river had dried up.
Francesca, the lady at the B&B did not know to drop a pin at her location and I was forced to walk through a beautiful park to my place. I am sure I would have enjoyed it had I been not so tired and did not have my backpack..
B&B - Palazzo Gozzi Bed and Beauty was Excellent. They had scored 9.9 in Trip Advisor. They run a Beauty Parlour downstairs and this place initially used to host the bride and her family on the day before the marriage. Now, they converted it into a B&B. They offer hair wash and setting as part of the deal.
I took a long hot shower and went into the city to find a restaurant. I found one in the centre of town and ordered a drink and dinner. The drink was watery and the pasta was uncooked plus the waitresses had a huge attitude. I sent back my Pasta.
And it started to rain!!
I had walked nearly a kilometre from my place of stay and HAD to reach back before the thunderstorm increased.
On my way back, I thought I would get an apple or two as finding a place to have dinner seemed impossible. I walked into a fruit store run by an Indian and Pakistani youth!!
My dinner that night was 'uno manzana' - one apple.
When I reached back, the parlour was closed. I was the only person in the building and that gave me slight jitters. At around 12, I thought I heard footsteps.... I jammed my chair to the door as there was no bolt and said a prayer.
It was not until next morning, I realised that there were rooms upstairs which were occupied.
I went to see a Parma cheese factory, Acetaia and wine yards the next day.
And as fate would have it, I was to visit Bologna again in 2 days!
After the second visit to Bologna, I rejoined my husband in Verona (the very town we had parted after Venice) and we flew to London. After spending 5 days there, we flew into Alicante, Spain to attend a marriage in Elche. Then we proceeded to Barcelona before flying back home.
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