The next day, we started with a hearty breakfast at the Art Hotel Commercianti where I was surprised to see candy being served for breakfast.
Then it was time to begin our quest for a laundromat. By now, Pokin and Nicholas were low on clean underwear. I told them if they just wore a tunic like I did and stopped being so reliant on pants they wouldn’t be in this kind of predicament. Of course they didn’t listen.
After setting in, we decide it’s time for some lunch. We started exploring around until we found a charcuterie place. It kinda just looks like what we normally eat at home.
Bologna is also known for Le due torri, or the Two Towers, built in from 1109-1119 by the Asinelli family. I don’t know what it is with Italian buildings and the fact they like to lean, but these towers lean. Something about the south ground. Apparently there are 9 towers in Italy like this.I guess at least they are beig stabilized so it’s really more of a threat to themselves!
Finally we peeked in the Basilica di San Petronio and called it good for the city.
Now here’s the thing about Bologna that most people don’t know. The city has canals. Like, actual Venice-style canals running under the streets. They paved over most of them centuries ago, but if you know where to look, you can peek through little windows in the walls and see the water still flowing underneath.
Nicholas made us go find them. Of course he did. The man cannot resist a hidden thing.
There’s a famous little window — the Finestrella di Via Piella — where you look through and suddenly it’s like a tiny Venice crammed between apartment buildings. Colorful walls, narrow water, the whole deal. Just… hidden behind a brick wall on a random street.
Naturally, people have covered the railings with love locks. Because humans can’t find anything beautiful without bolting metal to it.
We ended the day the proper way — dinner outside against a medieval wall, with proper Bolognese tagliatelle. Not spaghetti bolognese. Tagliatelle. The locals are very specific about this.
Oh as a last fact, Bologna is not the birthplace of Bolognese sauce. They do have a kind of meat ragu, but we were told definitely they were absolutely unrelated.