World City Guide

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
Walking tours of Bologna depart from the Informazioni e Assistenza Turistica (tel: (051) 246 541) tourist office on Piazza Maggiore, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1030. Another tour leaves Neptune’s Fountain on Sunday and Monday at 1100 and at 1500 on Tuesday and Thursday. These tours take roughly two hours and include Piazza Maggiore, the Archiginnasio, the Basilica di Santo Stefano and the Due Torri. Each tour costs ¬13 and no prior booking is necessary. Alternatively, private guides can be booked from the Associazione Guida d’Arte (tel: (051) 421 0809; fax (051) 421 4653), at a cost of ¬65 for three hours.

Bus Tours
The two-hour minibus tour of the city, offered by Cosepuri (tel: (051) 517 070; fax (051) 633 1054) were suspended in October 2002, although there are unconfirmed plans to restart the city tours in time for summer 2003. When in operation, the tours visit the major sites and monuments within the centre, starting from Via Indipendenza, in front of the ‘scalinata Pincio’ or Pincio stairs, on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1000 and 1500. As a result of the suspension, prices have not been decided upon yet.

Bicycle Tours
Two-hour cycling tours of Bologna, the Bike in Bo (tel: (051) 649 5043) tours, depart from the Informazioni e Assistenza Turistica tourist office on Piazza Maggiore, on Friday at 1800 and Saturday at 1600. There are two routes on offer – one focuses on the town and another takes visitors further afield. Each tour costs ¬20 and includes bicycle hire and insurance. It is possible for visitors to arrange tours at times other than the standard Friday and Saturday slots.