14 - 16 July 2022

Italy: Bologna

Oh, Italy. Such a beautiful country. For many of us, it stands for sweet wine and savoury pizza. For others, it has the perfect setting to take Instagram worthy pictures. To me, Italy is an abbreviation for I Truly Always Love You. I truly always love your culture, your sweet aroma of pasta, maybe even your Italian grandmothers sitting at the corner of the street smiling at every passerby. Maybe it will be your new idea of Italy once you've read all about my 3 day adventure in one of it's most quaint cities, Bologna.

Unlike most big Italian cities, Bologna is a buy one, get one free kind of deal. You think you're signing up for a crowded city, but you also get a zen experience once you visit the outskirts of the Bologna. It only takes a one hour stroll to find rural area's filled with nature and serenity.

14 July 2022

The 14th of July was mostly spent traveling from Brussels to Bologna by plane. When we flew near the city, I didn't have the impression that it was that huge. Maybe I was a little bit surprised because most of the cities I've visited where places such as Paris or London. Nevertheless, I felt a little bit lost once I landed. Luckily, a friendly man helped me discover how I could take a shuttle bus towards the Airbnb I booked near San Pio.

Damn the room was really cute! The first thing I thought was I'm so glad this place has a ventilator. Visiting Bologna in July sounds great, until you realize the temperatures can rise up to 38 degrees Celsius (or maybe even more ugh). No worries, just hydrate like crazy and try to stay in the shade ... you'll be fine. PLUS you have an excuse to go drink many refreshing beverages at local cafes. Luckily, I decided to explore Bologna with my boyfriend who can really appreciate those.

Before heading outside again, I decided to make myself a coffee and stare outside the window. Looking at the yellow houses and listening to the mellow tone of a strangers voice. Yes, I've fallen in love with this golden city.

15 July 2022

All ready to go sightseeing! The next day, we left a bit too late to beat the heat, but there's no escaping it anyway so we decided we might as well embrace it. It was just a 20 minute walk into the center of Bologna and I passed so many cute streets. The yellow, the orange, the green ... tones that make me cheerful.

For future reference, you can often spot me walking around in a sun hat (preferably one with a ribbon).

When I arrived at the Piazza Maggiore, I basically became a jumping sun hat impatiently hopping from one majestic construction to the other. The hat stopped bouncing once I stood in front of the San Petronio Basilica. The reason? It is so different from other churches.

The bottom is made out of red marble. The top part on the other hand, is the complete opposite. Somehow, it's much darker and made out of "just" bricks? You'll never guess why it remains unfinished. Tourists are often told that it is because they ran out of money but that's not the whole story. Apparently, they basically couldn't agree how to finish the building.

I find that pretty amusing because despite it's flaws, it remains one of the biggest churches in the world and the 6th largest one in Europe. When it comes to imperfect buildings, it is flooded by flabbergasted tourists. It is perfectly imperfect.

When it comes to people, we all are perfectly imperfect in our own way as well. I hope that's the message you take with you today. Why yes dear. YOU are beautifully, utterly and amazingly perfect.

My boyfriend and I decided to hike to the beautiful Bologna Sanctuary San Luca and witness the stunning sunset. The climb wasn't tough at all, considering we took a small bus to the top. If we had known about the breathtaking views, we totally would have hiked our way up. The sight of ancient buildings surrounded by lush green hills was breathtaking. We took a moment to take it all in, and I felt myself getting lost in the beauty of it all.

When we reached the top of the Sanctuary, the view was even more spectacular. We watched the sun setting behind the hills, painting the sky a beautiful hue of pink and orange. The air was filled with a sense of serenity, and we felt so lucky to be there. We watched the stars come out one by one, and it felt like a magical moment. The journey back was just as romantic, as we descended the long stairway. It was a special moment for us, and one we will never forget.

16 July 2022

We decided to visit the Archeological Civic Museum of Bologna and it was a fun experience. The museum houses a vast collection of Greek and Roman artifacts, including statues, mummies, and sarcophagi. I was struck by the beauty and detail of the statues, which ranged from ancient gods and goddesses to warriors and kings. I felt a connection to these ancient people and their lives as I looked upon their faces and studied their expressions.

The mummies were particularly fascinating. They were carefully preserved and some still had the jewelry and clothing they had been buried with. It was incredible to think that these people had lived and died thousands of years ago and yet here they were in front of me. I found the experience both humbling and inspiring. I also enjoyed learning about the history of the museum, which dates back to the 18th century.

Even though the visit was shorter than we expected, it was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and I would highly recommend a visit to anyone interested in archaeology and history. Especially if you're a student, then you get a free pass!

We spent a peaceful afternoon strolling through the enchanting city. The sun shone down on us like a warm embrace, and the cobblestone streets were lined with colorful buildings. We felt as if we were walking through a fairytale, and the golden light made everything seem so magical.

Suddenly, we stumbled upon the beautiful Biblioteca Comunale dell'Archiginnasio. It was like discovering a hidden treasure, and we were entranced by the the intricate details from the works of art. We could have stayed there for much longer, but alas, it was time to move on because our belly's started to growl.

We ventured to the Piazza Maggiore, and stopped in a small pizzeria for some authentic Italian pizza. The flavor was exquisite, and we savored every bite. As we ate, we watched people walking by, couples in love, families, and friends. The atmosphere was so peaceful, and it was a perfect end to our day in the centre. We left the Piazza Maggiore feeling content and happy and headed towards our final adventure.

We decided to take a bus to the Villa Ghigi (Parco di Villa Ghigi), located on the outskirts of Bologna. What we didn't count on, was that we missed our bus stop. As soon as the bus reached the top of the hill, it turned around 180 degrees and started to drive back down. We quickly realized that we would have to walk the all the way back up. At first we didn't find this so amusing, but as soon as we started to walk we realized the situation was quite funny, and it made us laugh as we started our ascent. Creating the perfect relaxed environment to enjoy each others company and the nature surrounding us.

The path was steep and winding, and it was a bit of a challenge, but we pushed on and finally made it to the top. We were rewarded with an incredible view of the park and the city below. We were so grateful for the opportunity to experience such beauty, and we took a moment to take it all in.

Then we found a little restaurant, the Villa Ghigi, where we ordered two beers and sat at the edge of the hill. We watched as the sun began to set. It was such a peaceful moment, and it felt like time had stopped. The restaurant also had live music, it echoed through the hills, and it mesmerized me. The singer's voice was hauntingly beautiful, and it carried us away to a different world. We could feel the emotion in her voice, and it was like a balm to our souls. The music seemed to linger in the air, and we were surrounded by its beauty. It was a truly magical moment, and I felt a deep sense of nostalgia. I could feel the sorrow and joy in the lyrics, and I was moved by the power of the music. We stayed there for what felt like hours, listening to the music and taking in the atmosphere.

We eventually made our way back down the hill, walking slowly and engaging in deep conversations as we heard the music disappear more and more into the background. We also joked around and shared stories, and it was such a wonderful way to end our day. We eventually made it back to our Airbnb, feeling content and happy. Ready to go back home after all those new experiences.

At last, our last day in Bologna came. We were determined to make our last day as memorable as the days before. We were sitting on a bench in the heart of Bologna, contemplating what our next move would be. The sun was shining and the blossoms on the trees were in full bloom. The tree branches were swaying in the gentle breeze and a cool, refreshing air surrounded us, which felt amazing in the warm city temperatures.

We could hear the chirping of birds and the tinkling of bells in the distance. The sky was a brilliant blue, full of possibilities. We sat and talked, enjoying each other's company and the beauty of nature around us. We watched people walking by, laughing and talking. I felt so content and peaceful. It's important not to always have an exact plan. Sometimes, just living is enough to be inherently satisfied.