Bologna

According to the guidebooks, Bologna is a place you go to eat. And so, we did.

After a quiet three hours on the train Saturday morning reading "The Goldfinch" on the kindle, we arrived in Bologna, a city in central Italy. Known as the home of the first University (1088-ish) and inhabited since the 9th century BC, it had been on our short list of places to visit before moving back to the U.S.. And we were not disappointed.

Fancy painted porticos

The city is full of porticos - arched, covered walkways tall enough for men to ride through on horses. We did not see anyone on horseback, but enjoyed the picturesque walkways anyway.  This one was particularly pretty at night.

We arrived in time to wander through town before lunch. The central square was full of balloons and wig-wearing Italians competing in some sort of bike competition. They surrounded the old churches, government buildings and a medieval palace with a very modern feel odd. Past the two leaning towers (take that, Pisa), we found our way to the university area. For as old as it is, it was full of students and the ancient buildings were plastered with graffiti and posters advertising bands and political protests, and felt much like any big (but old) City University area.

Tom's tortellini in brodo (broth)

Since the city is known for food, we followed the guidebook directions to a street with "several good trattorie" and found a little place to enjoy lunch.  The menu reported the pasta was homemade, and it was all delicious.  Add the best red wine I've had in an Italian restaurant and it made for an excellent meal!  There was plenty of good food in Bologna, and we ate more than our fair share, but this meal was the best.

It was even more amazing in person

 As we wandered through Bologna, we kept seeing signs for the Girl with the Pearl Earring exhibit which opened the same day.  Luckily, after only 15 minutes in the standby line, we got in!  So we had a little taste of Dutch art (Vermeer to Rembrandt) in the midst of our Italian weekend.  On the train, I had almost finished reading "The Goldfinch" and I was so excited to see the painting in this exhibit.  I will certainly remember both after finishing the book on the day I saw the actual painting.

As with any good night, Saturday ended with gelato.  It was nice enough to eat it outside in the shadow of Bologna's two leaning towers.  Another great weekend in our Italian adventure!  Almost enough to make me wish we weren't leaving so soon.  Almost.