by Quentin Morris

Created on: December 30, 2008

The medieval streets of Florence, the winding canals of Venice, the ancient splendour of Rome; these are the gems of Italy that see crowds of tourists flocking to them year after year. However, nestled in the foothills of the Apennines in northern Italy, contained within crumbling ancient city walls, is Bologna - the diamond in the Italian crown.

The lack of tourism in this medieval town is one of the most appealing aspects for the tourist weary of battling through the hoards to get a glimpse of Michelangelo's David or the Bridge of Sighs. The city maintains its italianicity as a result and shop keepers and restaurant owners rarely speak English. In fact guides to the city's main tourist sites in English are not widely available. It is this autheniticity which makes Bologna such a joy for tourists.

The Sites: This is a strange state of affairs when Bologna has so much to offer. Pisa has its leaning tower, but Bologna has two of them. The Asinelli tower and Garisenda tower are found in the very centre of this compact city both leaning alarmingly in opposite directions. While the Garisenda is closed to tourists for safety reasons, entrance to the Asinelli tower is a very reasonable 5 euros. However this is not for the faint hearted. The tower is hollow and with only a flimsy wooden handrail between the steps and a 330 feet drop the trip up can be alarming. The lean is also substantial and can be very disconcerting. It is not recommended for small children.

For a more leisurely experience the walk up to the San Luca church is a good option. The basilica is located outside the city wals and the path up runs under the longest portico in the world. Bologna is famed for its covered walkways and the route from Porta Saragozza to the hill top sanctuary is a beautiful one. There is a total of 666 arches and the path is 3.5 kilometers long. The view of the surrounding hills of the city is well worth a visit.

Bologna is an extremely vibrant city thanks to the large student population and is rich in cultural treasures. Among the many museums in the city is the Archiginnasio. Once part of Bologna University, the building houses an anatomical theatre with grotesque wooden models of body parts. Definitely one for the children.

For petrol heads the Ducati factory tour is a must. These super bikes are manufactured on the outskirts of Bologna and fans can watch test drives out on the factory's track. Modena, home of Ferrari, is also nearby and devotees can druel over a stunning collection

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