n the heart of the University district, a tall, sturdy brick tower stands out: it is the Specola, the astronomical observatory built in 1712. For centuries, this was the place where Bolognese scientists observed the stars and calculated the secrets of the cosmos. Recently, the tower has been undergoing a major restoration to return itContinue reading “The Eye on the Universe: The Specola Tower”
Category Archives: tradition
The Skinned Men: The Secret Heart of the Archiginnasio
🇬🇧 The Skinned Men: The Secret Heart of the Archiginnasio Inside the magnificent Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio, once the main seat of the University of Bologna, lies one of the city’s most breathtaking rooms: the Teatro Anatomico (Anatomical Theatre). Built in 1637 and entirely carved from spruce wood, this amphitheater-like room was where medical students gathered toContinue reading “The Skinned Men: The Secret Heart of the Archiginnasio”
The Alchemist’s Enigma: The Mystery of Aelia Laelia Crispis
🇬🇧 The Alchemist’s Enigma: The Mystery of Aelia Laelia Crispis Hidden within the Medieval Civic Museum of Bologna lies a stone that has fascinated and puzzled scholars, poets, and alchemists for centuries. It is the “Pietra di Bologna,” a 16th-century inscription dedicated to a mysterious woman: Aelia Laelia Crispis. The text is a series ofContinue reading “The Alchemist’s Enigma: The Mystery of Aelia Laelia Crispis”
🇬🇧 Bologna’s Golden Drop: The Legend of Pignoletto
🇬🇧 You cannot say you’ve truly tasted Bologna without sipping a glass of Pignoletto. This wine is the undisputed king of the Colli Bolognesi (Bolognese Hills). Its history is ancient: even Pliny the Elder, in the 1st century AD, wrote about a wine called “Pinuletum,” describing it as so unique that it wasn’t particularly sweet—aContinue reading “🇬🇧 Bologna’s Golden Drop: The Legend of Pignoletto”
The Hidden Perfection: Fra Damiano’s Secret Marble “A” in San Domenico
🇬🇧 Inside the Basilica of San Domenico lies a wonderful detail that showcases the technical mastery of Fra Damiano da Bergamo, the artist who created the choir’s wood intarsia between 1528 and 1550. That tiny white marble “A”, inlaid with such precision that it looks painted, has become a “hidden treasure” for visitors. These choirContinue reading “The Hidden Perfection: Fra Damiano’s Secret Marble “A” in San Domenico”
Look Up! The Mystery of the Three Arrows in Corte Isolani.
🇬🇧 If you haven’t seen the “Three Arrows” yet, or if you’ve only managed to spot one, it’s time to head to No. 19 Strada Maggiore. Here stands Casa Isolani, one of the rare surviving examples of 13th-century civil architecture. This extraordinary structure, with its 9-meter-high oak beams supporting the third floor, features one ofContinue reading “Look Up! The Mystery of the Three Arrows in Corte Isolani.”
The Excellence of Education in Bologna: Laura Bassi
🇬🇧 On International Women’s Day, we look back at a milestone in Bolognese history: Laura Bassi. In 1732, she became the first woman in the world to be appointed as a university professor. She was a pioneer of knowledge and a symbol of the academic prestige that has made Bologna famous for centuries. At ALCE,Continue reading “The Excellence of Education in Bologna: Laura Bassi”
Bologna’s Medieval Telephone: The Secret of the Podestà.
🇬🇧 English Text If you walk under the Voltone del Podestà in Bologna, you’ll often see people facing the corners of the pillars, seemingly talking to the wall. They aren’t crazy! They’re testing one of the city’s most fascinating acoustic secrets. Thanks to the vault’s unique curvature, if you whisper into one corner, someone inContinue reading “Bologna’s Medieval Telephone: The Secret of the Podestà.”
The Pink Queen of Bologna: Secrets and Curiosities about Mortadella
🇬🇧 If Bologna had a scent, it would be that of freshly sliced Mortadella. Known worldwide (and often simply called “Bologna”), our “Pink Queen” is much more than just a cold cut: it is a symbol of excellence, history, and conviviality. A Protected History Did you know that Mortadella is one of the oldest productsContinue reading “The Pink Queen of Bologna: Secrets and Curiosities about Mortadella”
The Stolen Bucket: Bologna’s Most Famous Trophy
Literature, Legend, and the Heroic-Comic Spirit of Alessandro Tassoni A War for a Wooden Bucket? If you visit the Ghirlandina Tower in Modena, you’ll find a strange sight: a simple, old wooden bucket hanging from the ceiling. To a stranger, it looks like common trash. To a Bolognese, it is the reminder of the onlyContinue reading “The Stolen Bucket: Bologna’s Most Famous Trophy”