Under The Tuscan Sun: Bologna

Yesterday I went to Bologna! I took a two and a half hour bus ride into the city and braved the rain. When I got to Bologna I walked through the city’s garden and into their Saturday market. Walking through the market is not really a good idea while it is raining because some of the tents set up are unreliable and I saw multiple people have water get dumped on them by collapsing tents. I decided it wasn’t the best place to be so I found a restaurant to have lunch at and try some authentic Bolognese sauce! I got tortellini Bolognese and had my first tiramisu in Italy for dessert. It was all so delicious; the sauce in Bologna is definitely famous for a reason! I then walked along the city’s main street looking in all the stores, with hopes of making it to the famous Piazza Maggiore next. Well, I got sidetracked by tons of huge and imposing signs for Palazzo Fava where a Vemeer and Rembrandt exhibit was visiting. The famous painting by Johannes Vemeer, The Girl with the Pearl Earring, or as seen on the signs, La Ragazza con L’orecchino Perla was the highlight of the exhibit, making it a “blockbuster exhibit.” (I read about blockbuster exhibits today for homework and how Vemeer’s paintings have made several popular shows so it was very cool to have just visited a blockbuster exhibit, showcasing Vemeer. A blockbuster exhibit is a travelling show, usually focusing on one famous artist, in the hopes of generating popularity and revenue for a museum.) So, having not studied Vemeer before, I figured it must be a big deal because it was so crowded and there were signs everywhere. I then decided I should see the exhibit, and I got to see it, but about two hours later. I ended up having to wait in line for entrance to the museum for an hour and a half before I could even go inside to buy my ticket. You also then had to wait in a long line to deposit your bag before proceeding. At several points of my standing in line I thought about leaving but I had already been there and was learning some Italian by talking to three older women behind me so it wasn’t that bad. Once I got into the exhibit I looked through about 7 rooms with Vemeer paintings, among others. It then took you to the grand finale, The Girl with the Pearl Earring, which had its own room and…it was SO small! I have to say after waiting in line for that long I was a little disappointed at how tiny the painting was. There were also lots of people crowded around it so it was hard to get to the front. All in all, it is a beautiful painting and I am glad I got to see it, but if anyone plans on travelling to Bologna to see the painting, make a reservation so that you don’t have to wait in line. So after I ended my experience with the blockbuster exhibit and picked up a postcard of the girl, I finally made it to Piazza Maggiore. I walked around there and Piazza Comunale for a while looking at Neptune’s Fountain and the other landmarks and monuments there. I went into San Petronio Basilica and Santa Maria della Vita then walked around historic Bologna and awed at all the beautiful Easter candy displays that are making their way out. I kept hearing loud music so I followed it and watched a lively concert by a small marching band. They were really good and even danced. I got some gelato, another thing Bologna is famous for, and made my way to the two leaning towers of Bologna. I climbed the 498 steps on a wooden staircase to the top and got a great view of the city! After the tower I went to the International Museum and Music Library of Bologna where I picked to write one of my midterm papers on. It is a beautiful museum and was so interesting. It opened in 2004 after extensive renovations because in each room there are floor to ceiling frescos along with ancient instruments and sheet music displayed. I really enjoyed looking at all of the displays too because they suspended a lot of the instruments with clear wire so it looked like they were floating. After the museum, a snack and some shopping it was luckily time to walk back to the bus station just as a riot in Piazza Maggiore was erupting. I couldn’t tell what the riot was for because the people involved were Middle Eastern of some kind, but their flags all had rainbows on them. As I got onto the main road, there were tons of police and SWAT cars lined up ready to approach with the officers getting out, putting on their helmets and grabbing their clubs. Good time to leave for me. Overall, it was a great day in Bologna and I am looking forward to going to Pisa, Lucca and Viareggio next weekend with my friends!

Ciao!

-Rachel