More Bologna

The two famous leaning towers of Bologna, or rather one and a half. The shorter Torre degli Asinelli started leaning too much when it was being built, so it was never finished. You can walk to the top of the Torre Garisenda for three Euros, but legend has it that if you do, you will never graduate from the University.

Back in Medieval times, every wealthy family had its own watchtower. See and be seen, eh? Every block was also its own fortified compound, in response to the social instability and civil wars of the times.

Bologna is also known for its many colonnades. These were originally built as a way for landlords to host a larger number of the growing student population, without paying additional taxes (which were based on the size of the building’s footprint).

Here is one of the originals, in the University quarter.

As the colonnades improved in design, they formed a beautiful canopy for sidewalk pedestrians. The city government began requiring colonnades on the street sides of buildings.

Now the 33 km of colonnades make for a picturesque tour, shaded in summer and shielding snow in winter.

Dante studied in Bologna, and there are several cultural connections. It is said that this statue was Dante’s inspiration for the fate of fortune tellers in the afterlife- their heads would always face backwards.

Dante depicted a certain prophet from Mecca being devoured by the devil. Here in the cathedral, an artist visually depicted the scene, even adding a nameplate to identify the prophet in case one did not get the reference. Security was increased several years ago after some offended Muslims were seen videotaping the mural.

Here is the building for the psychology department.

Of course the building for the faculty of law would have a Catch 22.

Even more Bologna

Photo Index