Bologna

lively and entertaining

Few European cities show the contrast between picturesque medieval times and busy modern commercial life as vividly as Bologna. The city lies in a fertile plain at the base of the Apennine mountain system, in the center of a railway network that roughly follows the ancient roads from the cities of Florence, Milan, Genoa, and Venice.

The arcaded streets of the old city were laid out by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. Today they are lined with busy shops. Medieval churches and palaces overlook modern theaters and office buildings. Factories in industrial zones produce textiles, glass, leather goods, machinery, and electrical equipment.

Two towers, which now lean, were built as citadels, and are now landmarks. Bologna also has one of the important art collections of Europe. The University of Bologna is probably the oldest existing university in Europe. It began as a law school in 1088. Bologna became part of the Papal States in 1506 under Pope Julius II. In 1860 it became part of the kingdom of Italy. The city was a center of partisan resistance during World War II. Population (1991 estimate), 411,803.