Italy
Day 2: The surroundings of Bologna
On day two, we explore the area surrounding Bologna. From a whimsical and serene park to breathtaking viewpoints and a pilgrimage to the Santuario di Madonna di San Luca 🏞️
Relax in Giardini Margherita
After a first bustling day exploring the heart of Bologna, like us, you might be in need of some well-deserved relaxation, which you'll find at Giardini Margherita 🌳 This park immediately showcases the natural beauty surrounding Bologna. It's the perfect spot to while away hours on a bench and admire the numerous water turtles 🐢 Are you a fan of picnics? Then you'll surely appreciate the ample privacy offered here 🧺 With its vast expanse, there's plenty of space to spread out without feeling crowded!
Have lunch at Serre dei Giardini Margherita
A true hidden gem lies on the edge of the park Giardini Margherita, the Serre dei Giardini Margherita, nestled within the cultural center 'Kilowatt'. Here, you can indulge in a delightful and vegan lunch. It was one of the highlights of our city break! 🌿
20 minutes: After lunch, you walk to Via Castiglione, which you follow southward. After about 500m, you turn right onto Via Vittorio Putti, which you follow until Salita di S. Benedetto. This street will lead you to the church.
Viewpoint di San Michele in Bosco
After lunch, we strolled to the Church of San Michele in Bosco, which offers a stunning viewpoint 🏰 From here, you can overlook the thousands of rooftops of the red city, including its most beautiful famous landmarks like the two towers. Despite its beauty, this spot remains relatively undiscovered, providing a peaceful atmosphere for soaking in the scenery or capturing breathtaking pictures 📸 Once you’ve taken in the view, you can walk downhill through Parco di San Michele Bosco 🌳 Exiting the park is possible via Via Alessandro Codivilla 🚶 Alternatively, you can reverse your route: start by walking to the park's entrance and then ascend towards the church's viewpoint 🔄
We first took a bus to Villa Spada, where we boarded bus 58 towards the Sanctuary (final stop).
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca is a renowned pilgrimage site atop a hill, offering breathtaking views of the green mountain landscape and the city 🏞️ From the center of Bologna, you can follow the 5-kilometer-long Portico di San Luca to reach the sanctuary. It's quite a climb for the full 5 km! While most people hike to the sanctuary, you can also reach it by public transport, which takes about an hour 🚌 We first took a bus to Villa Spada, where we boarded bus 58 towards the Sanctuary (final stop). Of course, you can then choose, like us, to walk down the Portico di San Luca. The descent is somewhat less strenuous than the ascent! Take some time to explore the sanctuary, too. The basilica is free to enter and incredibly beautiful inside. Among believers, there's a common perception: if you observe the holy icon of the Madonna di San Luca for a long time, you'll feel her gaze following you. This sensation is particularly strong when you approach the icon from the staircase leading to the altar 👀
Time for a fresh pasta!
After the brisk walk back to the center of Bologna, it's time to... take a shower 😉. And then head out for some fresh pasta! We dined at La Prosciutteria and enjoyed a delicious lasagna and pasta with wild boar stew. Yummy! What makes this restaurant even more enjoyable is their open LGBTQIA+ friendliness! 🍝🏳️🌈
Bombocrep!
Wrap up the evening with a delightful crepe from Bombocrep. Nowhere else in the world have we tasted crepes as delicious as these! 🥞
