Full of Bologna

From the Piazza Maggiore- love those parapets!

One of my quests in life is to see every Michelangelo work.  I know it's probably a long shot (thanks, Pauline Chapel) but I think I can get to ALMOST all of them in the next 50 years. This week's adventure was to Bologna, only about a half hour north of Florence by train.

On my own without any good reference material on the city, I followed this walking tour. It was great, can't recommend it enough.  If you're a fan of Rick Steve's, it's perfect for you.  Bologna was perfect for a day trip because most of the sites are free and within an easy walk.  The only downside was the fact that the churches closed midday, which left a few hours in the hot sun without a lot to do.  

I started the day with the walk from the train station to the Piazza Maggiore.  Every guidebook tells you about the covered walkways in Bologna and the shade was definitely appreciated.  I followed the tour through the sites on the square and then down to the to towers and the university section of the city.  Being on the site of such an old place of learning was pretty awesome, especially seeing the walls covered in plaques honoring teachers from hundreds of years ago.  I found a great pizza spot for lunch- everyone by the towers was sitting eating giant take-away slices so I followed their lead and had a huge piece for only €1.50. Best deal of the trip! It was the Pizzeria Due Torre, if you're in the area. 

Giambologna's Neptune. 

After lunch I hung out in the shade by the cathedral for a while reading, then had some gelato while wandering through the Quadrilatero, or old market area. Finally I headed down to the church of St. Dominic, where the tomb of the actual saint is located.  Michelangelo made a few of the figures on the top.  I also saw works by an artist new to me at the church of St Petronius, which were inspirational to Michelangelo's Sistene chapel.  I'll add those in here later, updating from the app just lacks features that a real computer provides ( links, captions, etc.). Ah, technology.

Edit: Jacopo della Quercia.   Too bad I didn't bring my copy of Lives with me!  I had to read about him at home.

Anyway, Bologna was a lot of walking and a lot of construction in the city.  It was dusty and everything in Italy is just so dead and dry because of the heat wave.  A day was enough this time, I think, but the city was a wonderful side trip.  

The Two Towers

Michelangelo's carvings on the Tomb of St. Dominic