Bologna photography guide

Spring: As the days warm, the food and wine festivals begin to gear up. Di Verde celebrates the local gardens and is held in May. Festivals are held throughout the region so if you have time you may want to take a day trip outside the city.

Summer: The Piazza Maggiore holds an outdoor film festival each summer with a huge screen set up in the middle of the square.

Fall: September through November is all about food and wine festivals. The Festival for Prosciutto di Parma is held in September. October 4 is Saint’s Day in Bologna with a religious procession between the Cattedrale San Pietro and the Basilica di San Petronio. Weekends in October and November are full of activities including the TartuFesta (truffle festival) and a large wine exhibit.

Winter: This is off-peak season due to the chilly temperatures. However, the city is decorated for the holidays and there is a large New Year’s Eve celebration in the Piazza Maggiore.

While Bologna has the same experiences the major cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples offer, it seems to fly under the tourist radar. The best time to visit is late Spring and early Fall when the weather is cooler, and the summer crowds have yet to arrive en masse.

Dress is casual but when visiting churches, you will need to have arms and knees covered. FYI, shorts are not common in Italy except at beach resorts.

Bologna Airport is 6km north of the city. Taxis are available 24/7 to the old city center. The Marconi Express monorail connects the airport to Bologna’s central station. The best way to travel around Italy is by train. You can reach Florence in 35 minutes and Rome in 2 hours.

Italy uses the Euro and accepts all major credit cards. The most common wall socket in Bologna takes an EU standard plug type C and F (two-pin) at 220V. I recommend purchasing a 220V power strip as many hotels have limited wall outlets for charging camera gear.

Most Bolognese speak at least some English. On a rare occasion, I had to pull out my iPhone and use a translation app when asking a very specific question. Public restrooms in Bologna are not common. The Biblioteca Salaborsa, located off the Piazza del Nettuno, has a public restroom on the lower floor. You will need 0,50 cents for the turnstile. If you do not have coin, there is a change machine on the main floor. Your best bet is to use the water closet at a bar, café, or restaurant.

Bologna has a lot to offer photographers. Due to its compact size and flat terrain, I found it an easy city to walk—be sure to pack comfortable shoes. Kudos to the Tourism Bureau for installing plaques throughout the city identifying the major buildings. If you get lost wandering the side streets all the main spokes of the “wheel” lead back to the center of Piazza Maggiore.

While architecture is the main photo subject in Bologna, you will have opportunity for street and food photography.

You can photograph the interior of most churches, but flash photography may not be permitted. Churches are free to the public, but some may request a donation to shoot in certain areas. Be sensitive to people worshipping. Tourists and photographers are part of the routine in many of the most visited churches. Yet those congregations off the beaten path have not adjusted to the distraction—so pay particular attention to your surroundings and respect those praying. Switch your camera to silent mode if you have that capability.

Take advantage of places like the Torre dell’Orologio and Torre degli Asinelli to get a bird’s eye view of the city’s red tile roofs. The elevated perspective will be worth the effort.