Hidden GemsFree
Portico di San Luca Walk
San Luca
A 3.8 km covered walkway of nearly 700 arches climbing to a hilltop sanctuary.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open-air; always accessible
Bologna
5 quieter places to add to the big sights: viewpoints, markets, walks, small museums and local favourites.
Plan your Bologna trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
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- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
5 places in Bologna
Culture~£5
Archiginnasio and Anatomical Theatre
Centro Storico
The original university building, with a beautiful wooden anatomy theatre.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 10:00–19:00
Hidden GemsFree
Basilica di Santo Stefano (Seven Churches)
Centro
A peaceful complex of linked churches and cloisters, dating back to the 5th century, in one of the city’s quietest corners.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden GemsFree
Finestrella di Via Piella
Via Piella
A small window in a wall that opens onto a canal view, a reminder that Bologna once had many canals.
- Suggested time: 15 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Photographers
Open all day
Hidden GemsFree
Certosa di Bologna
Certosa
A monumental 19th-century cemetery of arcades, sculpture and gardens, one of the city’s hidden treasures.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; closes at dusk
Hidden gems are the quieter alternatives to the headline sights. Prices, hours and booking advice are approximate, so check the official site before you go.