Piazza Maggiore is situated in the heart of Bologna and is home to some of the city’s most interesting landmarks while being a lively gathering place and beautiful attraction in its own right. Bologna is one of Italy’s largest cities and is particularly known for its immaculately preserved historical centre. It is also home to an endless variety of historical sites and landmarks.
The convenient central location of Piazza Maggiore places visitors within close proximity to much of what Bologna has to offer. The square itself is gorgeous on the eye and is overlooked by the towering Basilica of San Petronio as well as being home to other landmarks such as the Palazzo d’Accursio, now an art gallery and museum. Just around the corner from Piazza Maggiore is the famous Fountain of Neptune amongst many other cultural gems such as the Biblioteca Salaborsa, Bologna’s primary public library.
Owing to its excellent location right in the heart of Bologna, Piazza Maggiore is easily reachable on foot from other areas of the city’s historic centre. For those looking to reach the square from the wider Bologna area, the city is served by an extensive bus network although getting around by bicycle is a popular mode of transportation with both locals and visitors. Travellers flying into the city will find Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport to be an ideal place to land as it is located only six kilometres outside the city and linked by a dedicated airport shuttle bus, although many opt for the directness of a taxi.
Piazza Maggiore dates back to the Middle Ages and continues to be a thriving centre of Bologna. Some of the notable buildings located in the square including the Palazzo dei Notai and the large Palazzo dei Banchi. Bologna itself is the 7th largest city in Italy and is notable for being the home of the University of Bologna, the world’s oldest university.