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Bologna
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Football Italia City Guide
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| A beautiful city approximately 85km north of Florence, Bologna has plenty of sights to see in the Emilia Romagna area of the country. It is also home to Bologna FC, who have won seven titles since they were formed in 1909. Only Juventus, Milan, Inter and Genoa have more. Their most recent Scudetto success came in 1964 following a 2-0 play-off victory over Inter which is one of only two Serie A titles to have been decided over a single encounter. |
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 Stadio: Renato Dall'Ara
Built in 1927 and renovated for the Italia ‘90, the Stadio Dall’Ara is where David Platt headed England to second round World Cup victory against the Belgians. It is well designed and imposing, with classic Wembley-style towers and a striking position at the foot of the hill boasting the city’s distinctive San Luca Sanctuary.The Dall’Ara, in Via Andrea Costa, has a capacity of 39,387 and is within easy walking distance of the city centre - about 1km out of the Porta Sant’ Isaia city gate. But if you’re feeling lazy special buses (S1, S2, S3, S4) take you there from various parts of town.
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 Match Tickets
Covered seating in the Tribuna costs about 50 to 120 Euros. The uncovered Distinti seats cost 40-60 Euros. If you want to be among the raucous but generally well-behaved Bologna tifosi, the Curva Andrea Costa is the place to be, whereas the Curva San Luca is for away fans.
It’s worth remembering women and children under 14 qualify for reduced tickets known as Biglietti Ridotti. Tickets are on sale from the Carisbo bank situated at the Piazza Maggiore at the end of Via Independenza. Tickets can also be bought outside the stadium on match day. For online ticket sales visit: www.bestticket.it
Football Italia Ticket Info |
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 Out & About
>Climb the Asinelli Tower in the city’s heart. To see the stadium find the San Luca Sanctuary and look down.
>Walk to San Luca itself. Go out from the Porta Saragozza city gate and up the hill under covered walkways, to look down on the Dall’Ara.
>Traffic-free main square Piazza Maggiore and adjacent Piazza Nettuno often host events, such as concerts or open-air cinema. The whispering corners under the covered part between the square and the main road, Via Rizzoli, really do amplify your voice.
>The Seven Churches of Santo Stefano deserve a look. The difference in style between the interconnecting churches is abrupt. Look for the cockerel symbol of the professional barbers’ family chapel in the cloisters.
>If you feel like a breath of fresh air away from the city, take a walk up into the Parco di Villa Ghigi opposite Ciccio’s Osteria. Feel free to pick all the fruit you find - locals come with bags and baskets to fill with figs, peaches, chestnuts and so on.
>See a basketball match. Bologna houses Italy’s two top teams - Virtus and Fortitudo - and is in fact known as Basket City.
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Food & Drink
Home of the famous Spaghetti Bolognese, here they call the sauce Ragu, don’t consider it a local speciality and eat it with tagliatelle. Tortelli, however, come in all shapes and sizes. With a variety of fillings they are the real pride of Bologna. Try pumpkin filled tortelli for a real treat. Wash it all down with a bottle of the local San Giovese red wine.
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Restaurants
> La Brace in Via San Vitale 15 is just behind the stadium’s two towers. It’s a favourite lunchtime haunt of midfielder Tomas Locatelli. Great pizzas, pasta and mighty salads.
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Ciccio’s Osteria in Via San Mamolo 128 is just a short walk out of the city gates. All games are shown and all requests catered for. If you ask nicely, Ciccio will even let you watch Premiership matches. Come here for the best sandwiches in town. Try speck e funghi - smoked ham with mushrooms - or follow Ciccio’s recommendations.
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Trattoria Fantoni in Via del Pratello 11A is a typical Italian trattoria complete with red and white checked tablecloths and jugs of local wine. The menu changes daily.
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Pizzeria Belle Arti in Via Belle Arti 14 makes the best pizzas in Bologna - big and crispy.
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Accomodation
> Albergo Centrale (Via della Zecca 2. Tel: 0039 051 225114) - It’s cheap and central as its name suggests.
> Hotel Paradise (Vicolo Cattani 7. Tel: 0039 051 231792) - Located in labyrinthine old town.
> Hotel Corona d’Oro (Via Oberdan 12. Tel: 0039 051 236456) - More expensive, but high standards. Very central.
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Getting there...
Cheap flights to Bologna are easy to come by. For the best deals visit www.ryanair.com or www.gofly.com. From the airport the Aerobus runs to the city centre every 15 minutes.
Arriving by train, just walk up Via Independenza to be in the middle of things.
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Local lingo
Soccia (saw-cha) ragazzi, era rigore netto! - Blimey lads. Was that a penalty or what!
Chi (key) ha segnato? - Who scored?
Il guardalinea è ubriaco! - The linesman’s drunk!
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Compiled by: Sarah Lane
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