06 Jun 2019
Our guide Elisa was a a gentle introduction to the heritage of Bologna. Full of information and more than helpful in answering all manner of questions as we spent almost 3 hours walking through history. Beginning at the piazza maggiore and the large unfinished looking church, to city hall and the former jail. We stood at the talking walls before walking through porticos to the religious complex of St Stefano. We saw how the people of Bologna have always tried to do things their way, trying to foil a Pope as well as the French under Napoleon. We viewed the university strategically placed by a Pope , learned about Valsalva , a famous teacher at the university whose name stays with the technique to clear the ears when adjusting to altitude. It was interesting, well paced and informative . Highly recommended.