BOLOGNA

We left Gaiole after much hugs and kisses from our fellow travellers. We are now a couple travelling together on our way to Bellagio on the lakes. Sue had booked a two night stay in Bologna and a one night at Piacenza.

We arrived in Bologna, a city with a population of over 1 million. This is always a bit daunting for me as a driver however after more than a week of driving on the right hand side and the help of our GPS, I coped. We arrived in the mid afternoon with time to relax before going out to dinner. Our apartment was a sparsely decorated bedsitter in one of the noisiest streets, a main thoroughfare of public transport. It was only two stops by bus from the main historic centre.

I would return - if only for the lasagne - soft and delicate was the pasta and the filling to die for.

Neptune overlooks the Piazza.

Strangely, this couch of stone was actually quite comfortable to sit upon.

These people seemed more interested in playing with their phones than admiring the Basilica behind them. Obviously blasé locals.

The Basilica San Petronio - started in 1390, to this day remains unfinished.
Noye the section above the lower lighter colour which is rendered. The darker colour is still the base brick. 

Our son, Andrew and his girlfriend had spent some time in Bologna recently and said he had experienced the best lasagne that he could ever remember. We could only concur as we tried it during a lunch time walk the following day.

It's hard to imagine when you come from a relatively newly (European) settled country of Australia that Bologna was inhabited in the 9th century bc. Initially Bologna was founded as Felsina.
Bologna is also credited with having the oldest university, founded 1088. In modern times, it is also home to Maserati, Lamborghini and Ducati.

Last night in Bologna before moving on to Piacenza the following morning.

What Sue knows it for is the home of Prosciutto, Mortadella, Salami, and the pastas of Lasagne and Tagliatelle and of course, Bolognese sauce. We tried them all over our two day stay. The food was magnificent, and our waiters in all cases were proud of their cities culinary offerings and were most enthusiastic in recommending the local delights. We found the prices no more, if nor less that we experience back home.