First of all, the city is definitely less crowded than other months of the year. Especially in July and August, when schools close, many residents leave for their holidays, leaving behind a less chaotic and busy city.
However, unlike a few years ago, now some bars, clubs, restaurants and shops remain open even in August, a month that once saw Bologna turn into a ghost town.
Here then is our little guide on what to do in Bologna in summer, 4 ideas for those who are in town in one of the most beautiful seasons of the year.
Visit a museum
The first piece of good news is that museums never go on holiday. So why not take the opportunity to discover what Bologna's many museums have to offer?> The MAMbo
The MAMbo, an acronym for Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna (Museum of Modern Art of Bologna), is a contemporary art itinerary housed in the former municipal bakery of Bologna. It is located in the Manifattura delle Arti area, near the Parco del Cavaticcio, which by the way is one of Bologna's summer meeting places.
The museum hosts temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent collection dedicated to the history of Italian art from the 1960s to the present day, with a particular focus on Bolognese artistic and cultural expressions.
Among the works on display, do not miss Renato Guttuso's huge canvas depicting the "Funerali di Togliatti":
> Museo Civico Archeologico
Municipal museums also remain open in the summer, and it is an excellent opportunity to visit, for example, the Museo Civico Archeologico, located under the elegant Pavaglione portico.
Like the MAMbo, this museum also hosts temporary exhibitions - a famous one is dedicated to singer-songwriter Lucio Dalla on the tenth year after his death - but also a permanent collection consisting of archaeological finds mostly found in the Bolognese territory.
The Archaeological Museum is a historical museum in Bologna, preserving all the charm of the past. Don't miss the stone collection in the beautiful cloister and the Etruscan section, where you will discover that Bologna's original name was Felsina.
> Ustica Memorial Museum
We leave the centre behind to visit another museum venue, the Ustica Memorial Museum, a place built to preserve the memory of the airplane massacre of the same name that occurred in 1980. During this dramatic event 81 people lost their lives, who are commemorated through an art installation by Christian Boltanski.
The museum hosts the wreckage of the DC9, the plane on which the victims flew, illuminated by many lights that shine intermittently which remind us of the beating of the heart or breathing. Around the wreckage, sounds, voices and objects that belonged to them. An emotional journey that will remain etched in your memory for a long time.
The cinema in the piazza of the Bolognese
In summer, Piazza Maggiore turns into a huge open-air cinema thanks to the Sotto le stelle del cinema (Under the stars of cinema) festival, curated by the Cineteca di Bologna. In the shadow of one of the largest screens in Europe, every evening the Bolognese attend screenings of films from the past and present, for a programme lasting almost two months that does not even neglect films for children.
For the Bolognese, it is simply 'cinema in the piazza'. And the great thing is that it is free, the films are in the original language with subtitles, and the calendar continues until late August.
Guided tour of Bologna
A tour of Bologna can show you the most surprising and unexpected sides of the city, even if you live there permanently.
Of course, with summer temperatures getting around the centre can be a bit tricky, but avoiding the hottest hours of the day and cycling through it will help you escape the sweltering heat.
Our travel agency Travelhoo organises various bike tours in the city, from guided tours of the most popular monuments to a street art tour and an ice cream tour. Of course there are also tours for families, such as the treasure hunt to discover the secret animals of Bologna. Browse through the various tours on this site to find the one you prefer!
Sala Borsa
Sala Borsa is one of the best known and most characteristic places in the city, ideal for those looking for ideas on what to do in Bologna in the summer. It is a multifaceted place, housing a library, an archaeological museum, an exhibition space and more, all under one roof.Sala Borsa is a refuge for university students, who spend entire days in the study rooms, but also for those who want to read the newspaper or have a coffee in the café inside.
Among its special features are the archaeological excavations in the basement, visible through the glass floor on the ground floor, remains of the ancient Roman Bononia that you are free to visit.
