Bologna

We drove on in the afternoon from Modena to Bologna. By 7PM we had given up on attempts to find a sosta or other cheap/free parking and ended up at the municipal campground/resort. 25 euros. We did some wash, cheaper there, just to justify the unexpected expense. Next morning, getting a late start, we took the bus (runs every 2 hours) to the city.

Dueling Saints: in our pagan ignorance, we did not realize
it was the feast day of Italy's national patron saint, St. Francis,
and Bologna's city patron saint, St. Petronius; nor did we
fathom the implications for public transportation, business
closings, large crowds and rock concerts in the big piazza,
and the 8 day-time masses held at the cathedral...such is
the life of the wanderer errant

Roman ruins at the outskirts of the old city; near the great
Parco Magnolia garden

It is a town of great old architecture, covered arcades, the
oldest of universities...

Many painted arcades

This is the largest city we have been in in a
while, and, alas, there were far more beggars
than we have seen recently

We had a nice long lunch at Osteria dei Poeti; pictured is the
house specialty, pounded and rolled chicken breast, stuffed
with mozzarella and porcini, then wrapped in prosciutto and
baked; served on toast on a bed of greens; Vicki had a
disappointing spaghetti Bolognese

Near the church of San Domenico--think:
Domenican Order--a casket with a view

More arcades

Ditto--I love this stuff--and the wonderful colors (mostly
pinko) of this town

High up in the courtyard of a palazzo we stuck our heads into,
now the parking area for building tenants, a della Robia

Beautiful curves

In the fashionista district, camo is the new lime...

Festivities! Although we couldn't tell whether they were for
St. Francis or St. Petronius

The very famous Neptune fountain by
Giambologna

Interesting poses all around; apparently
there's a water conservation program in effect

At this point we had missed our bus and were hurrying
back across the old town to catch a supposed alternative
bus...on the Via Malcontenti

But we managed to get a good look at
Bologne's emblematic Due Torri--its two
towers--the Garisenda and the Asinelli, 97
meters high (think: 30 stories)

Both lean rather precariously; you can climb
up to the top of the Asinelli, but not the
Garisendi