About Bologna
About Bologna
Bologna has several nicknames.
It is called the red city (‘la rossa’), either for the colours of the roofs, or its long-standing leftist-communist history which prides itself on the anti-fascist resistance of the surrounding area.
Bologna is also called the learned city (‘la dotta’) as it likes to boast the oldest University in the world, founded in 1088. In the 1700s, Bologna was known to shock northern Europeans with its female intellectuals, including the physics professor Laura Bassi. In the 1970s a women’s library was developed, which is now part of the University library system. The first LGBT centre (Cassero) and the first Trans centre (MIT) in Italy were founded in bologna in 1982. In 2006 Bologna was appointed a UNESCO City of Music as “It has also shown a strong commitment to promoting music as an important vehicle for inclusion in the fight against racism and in an effort to encourage economic and social development.”
Bologna is a mid-size city (7th biggest in Italy) that continues to draw people for the University, the art and music community, and the general easiness of the city. Bologna has provided the nutritive soil for many mural artists, bands and social movements.
Bologna is also called the fat city (‘la grassa’) due to its often diary and meat-heavy cuisine. Fresh egg pasta is very common, including the traditional dishes: tortellini, tortelloni, passatelli, tagliatelle, and lasagne. Watch out for Bolognese sauce, which was invented abroad - if you want something similar get Ragu or Ragot, the traditional meat sauce that should go on tagliatelle. Vegans and vegetarians should not despair, you can always get pizza and pasta without meat and without dairy if you prefer, and there are almost always vegetable dishes.