Bologna, the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, is renowned for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Since the Middle Ages, Bologna has been a vibrant center of intellectual and cultural development, largely due to its university. Established in 1088, the University of Bologna is the oldest in the Western world. This institution has attracted students and intellectuals from across Europe, becoming a hub for thought and innovation. Here are some of the most beautiful museums of Bologna, also known as the “Dotta.”
The most beautiful museums of Bologna
Over the centuries, Bologna has remained a hub of fervent artistic, literary, and scientific activity. The city’s contemporary cultural scene is equally dynamic, with a particular emphasis on performing and visual arts. Bologna hosts a variety of museums that reflect the city’s historical and artistic wealth.
Currently, the city boasts around 50 museums, which, along with permanent collections, organize temporary exhibitions. Private foundations, religious museums, and university museums within the University Museum System complement the notable system of civic museums. Here are now the most beautiful museums of Bologna to visit during your stay in the city.
National Art Gallery
Founded in 1808 as the picture gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, the National Art Gallery of Bologna houses works of Emilian painting from the 13th to the 18th century. The museum is located in the former novitiate of Saint Ignatius and at Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande. The exhibition starts with works from the 14th century, among which the polyptych “Madonna with Child and Saints” by Giotto stands out. The Renaissance section showcases works by Raffaello and Tintoretto, as well as a rich collection of works by Carracci and Guido Reni, who revolutionized painting with their innovative approach to composition and color. The 18th-century hall brings the journey to a conclusion after the 17th century.
Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande showcases rooms beautifully frescoed by major exponents of the Bolognese decorative tradition, active between the 16th and 18th centuries. The noble floor of the palace hosts some paintings from the Zambeccari collection.
The National Art Gallery is located at Via Belle Arti, 56, and Via Castiglione, 7 (Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande).
Municipal Art Collections
Among the most beautiful museums of Bologna is the one located in the Municipal Palace on Piazza Maggiore, the city’s most famous square. The Municipal Art Collections comprise a diverse heritage, with paintings, furniture, furnishings, and household items from the City of Bologna, collected since the 19th century. A collection of 18th-century artworks and numerous medieval paintings complement this. Thus, the Municipal Art Collections span a period from the 13th to the 20th century.
The exhibition path traverses rooms that already have high historical and artistic value, such as the Urbana Room, the Vidonian Gallery, the Farnese Chapel, and the Boschereccia Room. Among the displayed works are sculptures by Canova and paintings by Francesco Hayez and Artemisia Gentileschi.
The Municipal Art Collections are located in Piazza Maggiore 6.
MAMbo – Modern Art Museum
The Modern Art Museum of Bologna offers temporary exhibitions and a permanent display that revolves around various themes. Each illustrates the most innovative aspects of artistic production from the second half of the 20th century to today.
The first room at MAMbo highlights one of the most notable works in the collection, “The Funerals of Togliatti” by Renato Guttuso. It also includes paintings by representatives of 1960s Rome. “Archive Surveys” is a new section at MAMbo recounting the International Performance Weeks held between 1977 and 1982 throughout the Emilia Romagna region.
MAMbo—Modern Art Museum is located at Via Don Giovanni Minzoni 14.
Archaeological Civic Museum
Housed in the 15th-century Palazzo Galvani, also known as the ancient “Hospital of Death,” the Archaeological Civic Museum holds one of the most significant archaeological collections in Italy and depicts the ancient history of Bologna, from prehistory to the Roman era. In addition to artifacts found during excavation campaigns in the city, the museum also boasts a collection of Egyptian antiquities, among the most considerable in Europe.
In total, the Archaeological Civic Museum houses a collection of 200,000 works. These are divided among the prehistoric section, the Etruscan section (which represents the richest collection related to the city’s earliest phases), the Gallic, Greek, Etrusco-Italian, Roman, Egyptian, and numismatic sections. The Lapidary and the Gypsotheque contain plaster copies of famous Greek and Roman sculptures.
The Archaeological Civic Museum is located at Via dell’Archiginnasio 2.
Ducati Museum
Located at the Borgo Panigale plant, the Ducati Museum illustrates the history of the iconic Italian motorcycle brand. The museum recounts the company’s story through four chronological paths, from its origins to the present. The first path, “Ducati moments,” allows visitors to discover facts, people, and technological innovations that marked the company’s evolution.
The second path explores the company’s first twenty years, when it specialized in radio communication technologies. The “History of Street Motorcycles” displays the twenty most iconic motorcycles that have defined Ducati’s success. The last path features the collection of racing motorcycles, trophies, and suits of the most legendary riders.
The Ducati Museum is located at Via Antonio Cavalieri Ducati 3.
Medieval Civic Museum
The Medieval Civic Museum, located in the Renaissance Palazzo Ghisilardi, is one of the most beautiful museums of Bologna. The museum preserves artifacts and testimonies from medieval Bologna, as well as the sepulchral monuments of the doctors of the ancient university. The museum also holds Lombard productions, the magnificent statue of Boniface VIII, and a collection of illuminated manuscripts and texts.
Moreover, the collections of the Medieval Civic Museum include sculptures and materials from the beginning of the 14th century up to the 16th century. Collections of applied arts, weapons, and naturalistic collecting complement this.
The Medieval Civic Museum is located at Via Manzoni 4.
Palazzo Poggi Museum
Palazzo Poggi is one of the sites of the ancient University of Bologna and its associated museum, which includes the laboratories and collections of the Academy of Sciences, active between 1711 and 1799. In the grand frescoed halls of the palace, visitors can admire collections of geography and nautical, physics, military architecture, chemistry, natural history, human anatomy, and obstetrics.
Palazzo Poggi is also rich in artworks and preserves the wunderkammer of collector Ferdinando Cospi, one of the most important of the 17th century. The Magna Charta Universitatum, located in “Magna Charta Hall,” is a must-see. It enshrines the principles of freedom, knowledge, research, teaching, and the concept of free international exchange for students, researchers, and university teachers.
The Museum of Palazzo Poggi is located at Via Zamboni 33.
Industrial Heritage Museum
The former Fornace Galotti, which began producing bricks in the second half of the nineteenth century, now houses the Industrial Heritage Museum. Considered among the most beautiful museums of Bologna, it illustrates the city’s identity and industrial history through five sections. The large permanent collection includes six paths spread over three floors of the building.
On the ground floor, the Hoffmann kiln preserves collections of scientific instruments, machinery, models, and interactive stations that tell the story of the Galotti Furnace. On the second floor, the museum itineraries allow you to discover the productive excellence of Bologna over 5 centuries: the production of silk and the more recent mechanical and mechatronic production.
The Industrial Heritage Museum is located at Via della Beverara 123.
Civic Museum of the Risorgimento
The Civic Museum of the Risorgimento is located at Casa Carducci, the Bologna residence of the famous Italian poet. It illustrates the history of the process that led to the unification of the country through documents, relics, uniforms, weapons, flags, and photographs.
In 1888, they established the museum to commemorate and document the recent unification of Italy. Today, it is also a local history museum. In fact, it illustrates the events that occurred between 1796, the year of the arrival of the revolutionary French troops in the city, and 1918.
The Civic Museum of the Risorgimento is located at Piazza Carducci 5.
Ustica Memorial Museum
The Ustica Memorial Museum commemorates the Italian tragedy known by its name. It includes the installation by artist Christian Boltanski and the remains of the DC9 airplane. On June 27, 1980, it took off from Bologna and met its demise in flight en route to Palermo. Eighty-one lights that turn on and off like a human breath commemorate the 81 victims of the massacre. Eighty-one black mirrors reflect the image of those who walk through the corridor.
The large black cases arranged around the remains of the airplane contain the personal belongings of the victims, which were found among the wreckage. The Association of Relatives of the Victims of the Ustica Massacre strongly wanted this museum. It is not only one of the most beautiful museums in Bologna but also one of the most evocative.
The Ustica Memorial Museum is located at Via di Saliceto 3/22.
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Tourist information offices in Bologna
The tourist information offices in Bologna can be found at:
- Bologna Welcome to Infopoint Piazza Maggiore (IAT-R). Located on the first floor of the Palazzo del Podestà in Piazza Maggiore, the office provides the following services: hotel, restaurant, and tour reservations, as well as the option to purchase train tickets. At the office, it is also possible to purchase in advance tickets for theater shows and cultural and sporting events. The office operates from Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contacts: +39 051 6583111, booking@bolognawelcome.it
- eXtraBO, Outdoor Infopoint, Piazza Nettuno, 1/AB. The eXtraBo serves as the information point for outdoor activities in the Bologna area. The office aims to promote the green areas, including hills, lakes, trekking, canals, parks, and biodiversity. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Contacts: +390516583109, extrabo@bolognawelcome.it
