BOLOGNA AND ITS LITTLE SECRETS
BOLOGNA AND ITS LITTLE SECRETS
The charming city of Bologna is well known for its famous attractions, but there are a few hidden gems that only some tourists get to see.
Luckily, just a few steps from our Hotel in the center of Bologna, you can unveil some of the city’s hidden secrets and enjoy an unusual experience walking through the reddish stress of Bologna.
The wireless telephone
Starting from our Hotel in Piazza Maggiore of Bologna , under the Mayor’s Vault (Voltone del Podestà), a passage that connects Piazza Maggiore with Piazza Nettuno, you can test out a way of communicating that is way out of the ordinary.
You will have to go there with your travel partner and stand facing each other’s backs under two of the four pillars that are diagonally opposite. Try to say a few words.
Everything you’ll say your partner will hear and vice versa.
This ancient way of communicating was created so that lepers could confess their sins. Now, it is a fun way to exchange loving words with a partner or funny stories with friends and family.
The three darts
Taking a stroll in the city center, you will surely end up in the famous Strada Maggiore. There, by the charming Corte Isolani, you will notice groups of people staring at the ceiling and pointing their fingers.
You may ask yourself the reason behind that, and there you discover another of the secrets of Bologna. Looking at the wooden beams, only the finest observers will notice three darts stuck in the wood.
What is the story behind them? They say a Bolognese nobleman had hired three professional archers to take revenge on the woman he loved who had cheated on him. The woman, cunning like a fox, showed her true beauty to the archers. The three men, gazing at the woman's sight, threw their darts in the wrong spot.
“Canabis Protectio”
Don’t lower your head too quickly because in Via Indipendenza, after the intersection with the famous Via Rizzoli, you will see a curious inscription. Looking at the frescoed vaults of Torre Scappi, you will read a Latin inscription: “Panis vita, Canabis protection, Vinum Laetitia”, which means Bread is life, cannabis is protection, wine is joy.
Undoubtedly odd seems the mention of the cannabis. It is known that the protection to which the inscription is referring is the economic protection that came from the hemp trade (cannabis in Latin). The hemp would have enriched the city of Bologna.
The broken vase on the Asinelli Tower
Among the main attractions of Bologna, there is of course the famous Asinelli Tower. Here hides a secret only a few know about. They say that, once you have gone all the way up the infinite number of stairs that lead to the top of the tower, you should look for a broken vase.
This is Bologna’s best kept secret; it seems in fact that nobody has found it yet.
Don’t worry though, even if you don’t manage to find it, you’ll still be able to enjoy an amazing view of the historical city center of Bologna in which you will also be able to see our Art Hotel Commercianti , which is the ideal place to start your researches through the city.
“Panum resis”
Walking past the towers and taking a stroll along the main streets of the university area, you can look for another secret of Bologna, that this time is related to its famous University Alma Mater Studiorum.
In Via Zamboni, inside Palazzo Poggi, there’s a desk with a particolare inscription that says:”Panum Resis”.
This phrase in Latin means” knowledge is the base”, and it wants to underline how important knowledge is, especially for a city famous for its prestigious university such as Bologna.
Bologna, a little Venice
In Via Piella, not distant from the main streets of the city, you’ll have the chance to teleport to Venice in the blink of an eye.
In this street, you will find a little window that, once open, will give you a view of one of the many canals that flow through the city. Surrounding the canal, you’ll see the walls and windows of many houses that will give you the impression of being in Venice, the “city of water”.
If you want to teleport to Venice, grab a bike from our Hotel with bicycle rental in Bologna , and don’t skip this great spot during your visit to the city.
The wonderful city of Bologna is full of attractions. Other than visiting all the famous ones, such as the San Petronio Basilica, the towers, and the porches, get a taste of the legends and the stories behind the city by engaging in a tour far different from the usual ones.
Our charming Hotel in the center of Bologna, given its proximity to these less popular attractions, will ease your search for the hidden secrets of the city; while letting you enjoy the main monuments.
By staying at our wonderful Art Hotel Commercianti and in its apartments in the center of Bologna, you will enjoy a unique visit of the city and fully engage in its atmosphere.