14 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Bologna - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Bologna

Museo di Palazzo Poggi Anatomy & Obstetrics Collection

An extraordinary collection of 18th century anatomical waxworks.

Bologna's Istituto di Anatomia Umana Normale

An amazing collection of wax anatomical models and terratological models.

Saint Catherine of Bologna

The mummified relic of St. Catherine sits forever on a golden throne.

Finestrella di Via Piella

A small window on Via Piella offers a lovely and rare peek at Bologna's lost canals.

Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio

In the world's oldest university is a stunning 17th century anatomical theater carved from spruce.

Towers of Bologna

Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the Middle Ages, but only 22 survive.

Bologna Zoological Museum

This zoological museum began as the first great curiosity cabinet.

Relics in the Basilica of San Domenico

A diverse collection of wax, bone, papier-maché and mummified relics.

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Unique
Food & Drink
in Bologna

Mortadella

Baloney's predecessor is sweet, delicately spiced, and bigger than your head.

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Atlas Obscura Trips

Rome Behind Locked Doors: Music, Magic, and Secret Crypts

Join us as we go beneath Rome’s streets and behind its locked doors to explore hidden and overlooked places, witnessing a capital city that most tourists rarely experience—strange, magical, and filled with intrigue.

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Stories
About Bologna

Snapdragons (<em>Anthirrinum majus</em>) grow from Bologna's ancient fortifications.

A Century-Old Botanical Catalog Shows How Urban Plant Life Has Changed

In Bologna and other cities around the world, it’s the age of the hardy invader.

by Isaac Schultz