Italy's most genuine city offers amazing food without the crowds of Rome or Venice

If someone asked you to name an Italian city, you'd likely think of a few well-known ones right away, like Rome, Venice, or Florence.

However, anyone who’s been to these famous cities knows that getting around often means dealing with crowds of tourists and the downsides of popular spots, like tourist-trap restaurants and long lines for attractions.

These cities are iconic for a reason, like the awe-inspiring ruins of Rome’s gladiator arenas or the dreamy canals of Venice, where only boats and pedestrians can get around.

Yet, while these famous cities steal the spotlight, there’s another Italian city with so much to offer that doesn’t get nearly as much attention but absolutely deserves it.

Bologna, the capital of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, sits nearly midway between Venice and Florence. It’s Italy’s seventh-largest city and has a rich history that goes back thousands of years, giving it a wonderful mix of the old and the new.

One of Bologna’s biggest claims to fame is that it’s home to the world’s oldest university, but its real highlight might be its incredible food.

Credit: Tiberio Frascari in Flickr

Some say pasta was invented here, and even if that’s just a rumour, Bologna is definitely the birthplace of well-known dishes like tagliatelle al ragu, lasagne, prosciutto, tortellini, and mortadella.

There’s plenty to see and do in Bologna, but you could easily spend your days wandering the cobbled streets and alleys, stopping at bars, cafes, gelato shops, and restaurants, or browsing clothes shops from high street to high-end.

Bologna may not be as well known for them as Venice, but it also has canals, built in the 12th century to transport goods and people.

The canal is mostly covered now, but if you search, you can still find a bit of it. At Finestrella di Via Piella, there’s a fence where you can peek out at the canal.

There’s an even better view across the street through a “hidden” window that you can open yourself if it’s closed, giving you a secret look at the canal.

Discover more hidden gems with our interactive map!

Did you know we have a Hidden Gem Finder on our website? This handy little map shows over 12,000 hidden gems across the entire world with their exact co-ordinates available to view on Google Maps as well as an image/description for each one!

Click to view Hidden Gem Finder!