Piazza Aldrovandi, how cute is It!!

If you feel like going for a little walk, I highly recommend heading to Bologna’s historic city centre on foot. It takes around 15 minutes, and I promise you, it’s absolutely worth it!! Once you leave TuperTu, turn right onto Via Massarenti. Walk past Sant’Orsola Hospital, and after a few steps, you’ll reach Porta San Vitale. From here begins one of Bologna’s oldest streets, documented as far back as 1159. It connected, and still connects, the historic city centre with the eastern part of the city, along Via Massarenti, right where TuperTu Bologna is located. A few more steps and you’ll find yourself standing beneath the TORRESOTTO DI SAN VITALE, a medieval gateway that was part of what is known as the Cerchia del Mille, Bologna’s second ring of city walls. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries, these walls were gradually expanded over time. Today, only a few clearly recognisable traces of this ancient medieval fortification remain, and the Torresotto di San Vitale is one of them. And now, let’s get to PIAZZA ALDROVANDI, one of my favourite squares in Bologna! Standing beneath the Torresotto, look to your left, and there it is: the square opens up before your eyes. The square was created by filling in the moat that once ran alongside Bologna’s medieval city walls. It still preserves several important historic buildings, each telling a different part of the city’s story. What makes this little square so special is its fascinating dual personality: during the day, it’s a traditional neighbourhood market, while in the evening, it becomes one of the favourite hangouts of Bologna’s young, alternative and lively crowd. Here’s a little historical fun fact: in 1877, the fruit and vegetable market was moved from Piazza Maggiore to Piazza Aldrovandi as part of an urban improvement project aimed at making the city centre more presentable. At first, a large wooden canopy was installed; later, the fruit and vegetable stalls appeared. Today, there are 16 kiosks, 14 of which sell food, complete with little tables and seating for customers. And that’s precisely what makes this place so unique: these aren’t simply a row of shops, but genuine open-air businesses that bring the square to life in the late afternoon, transforming it from a food market into a lively meeting place. You can wander from one kiosk to another, grab a bite to eat, enjoy an aperitivo and spend time chatting outdoors. So, if you’re curious and would like to learn more, check out the Bologna Welcome website. And most importantly, have fun discovering this little gem of a square! ❤️