scubish.com: Scuba diving Bologna - Italy

Understand

When to visit
Bologna's at it best from March-April to October, when its warm and people stay outside, sit in squares such as Piazza Santo Stefano and Piazza Maggiore. However, during July it is particularly hot. In August as with the much of Italy in the summer, many shops and restaurants are closed for the summer vacation. Winter can be bitterly cold and snow is common over Christmas.

Eat

There are many choices for where to eat, as Bologna is generally considered to be the gastronomic centre of Italy. It is difficult to find a truly poor meal as the Bolognese, like most Italians, use fabulous quality local produce with sparkling ingenuity.

Tamburinis delicatessen in Via Caprarie is one of the world's great delis specialising in pasta, cheese and ham and serves lunchtime food cafeteria style at moderate prices (less expensive than a restaurant, more expensive than a cafeteria).

Just down the street on Via Orefici and linked to Tamburini's history is the locally famous Bar Otello. A small place noted as "The bar that hosted the history of the Bologna soccer team", is the true Bolognese's gathering hole. Bolognese from all walks of life stop in for a quick espresso, small chat (usually in Bolognese dialect between the older patrons), buy their cigarettes, try their luck on the pools and shut themselves off to concentrate on the sporting events, talk about the day's events or criticise Italian politics. They also have one of the best cappuccino's in town (if you're a glutton try their cacao(chocolate)/nocciola(hazelnut) cappuccino). Unpretentious and genuinely nice, one of the few bars that make you feel welcomed once you come in.

Via del Pratello has lots of bars and restaurants/osterie. There's lots to choose from here. Walk past, look at the menus. It is located towards the middle of the 'western' part of the map. Via Mascarella/Largo Respighi is another zone with a lot of Osterie.

The "Diana" on Via Indipendenza is probably the most famous restaurant in the city (quite expensive but not the worst one). Foreign tourists - the Japanese, and businessmen, primarily - come here.

"Il Pappagallo" ("The Parrot"), found at the top of the street leading into Piazza Santo Stefano was a famous haunt of the stars during the '60s and '70s and still attracts an exclusive clientele. Its mix of traditional Bolognese fare and nouvelle cuisine gives the "Diana" a run for its money.

The really good ice cream can be had at "Gianni's", a traditional Italian gelateria found near Via Ugo Bassi and the top of Piazza Santo Stefano. In 2006 a third gelateria opened at the corner of Via San Vitale and Via Zamboni, just under the Asinelli Tower.

Another ice cream must-try is "Il Gelatauro", in Via San Vitale. It has many unique ice cream flavours, mostly of Sicilian origin, and it is considered one of the best gelateria of Italy.

If you are just hungry and really out of money, next to Il Gelatauro is the chinese take-away "La Fenice". Don't be appalled by...