Piazza Maggiore is Bologna’s civic heart: a broad, stone-paved square where friends meet, visitors pause on the steps and everyday life unfolds against a backdrop of medieval palaces. It is the natural starting point for exploring the historic centre, but also a place worth lingering in its own right.
The square took shape in the 13th century as a space for markets and civic government. The Basilica di San Petronio dominates its southern side, its unfinished facade faced in pink and white marble below and bare brick above. Around the piazza stand Palazzo d’Accursio, the historic seat of city government, Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo dei Banchi. The Renaissance Fountain of Neptune is just next door in Piazza del Nettuno.
Step inside San Petronio to see its immense Gothic interior and the meridian line laid into the floor in 1655. In summer, Piazza Maggiore becomes an open-air cinema, with screenings connected to Bologna’s celebrated film culture. The narrow streets of the nearby Quadrilatero are packed with food shops and places to try local specialities such as tortellini in brodo and tagliatelle al ragù.
Come early for a quieter look at the buildings, or around aperitivo hour to see the square at its liveliest. Dress modestly if you plan to enter the basilica, and look a street or two beyond the piazza for better-value café tables. The historic centre is easy to explore on foot; avoid driving into its limited-traffic zone.