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Bologna
is a medium-size city, with about 600.000 inhabitants, with
a history dating back the Etruscan age, with an outstanding
heritage from the roman and middle age periods.
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Bologna
came to worldwide attention with the founding of the University
in 1088, when two thousands students from all over
Europe poured into the medieval “comune”. It is
reputed as the oldest University in the Western Society
with more than 9 centuries of history and it is one of the
major universities in Europe (http://www.unibo.it). |
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It
is one of best preserved and most beautiful cities in Italy,
with the center made of a labyrinth of ancient streets,
exquisite squares, churches, monuments, and sweeping porticoes.
40 km of ochre-coloured arcades still shadow the
streets - covered walkways that give Bologna its unique
style. It
is well known for several reasons, among which the cultural
aspects, the quality of life, the cuisine and wines. http://www.comune.bologna.it
There
are three faces to Bologna:
- Bologna
la rossa (the red), famed for its rusty rooftops,
rich hues of terracotta and left-wing leanings;
- Bologna
la dotta (the scholarly), so-called because the city
is home to the oldest university in Europe;
- Bologna
la grassa (the fat), the cradle of Italian gastronomy.
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Founded
by the Etruscans on the Po Plains in 600 BC as Felsina,
the city was renamed Bononia by the Gauls.
Bologna
came to worldwide attention with the founding of the University
in 1088, when two thousands students from all over Europe
poured into the medieval “comune”. It is reputed
as the oldest University in the Western Society with more
than 9 centuries of history and it is one of the
major universities in Europe.
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fairground district, built in the 60s by the Japanese architect
Kenzo medieval towers of Bologna. As the fifth largest exhibition
centre in Europe, international trade fairs (http://www.bolognafiere.it/eng_default.asp).
In 2000, Bologna was one of the nine European cities of culture. |
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Bologna
- The industrial area
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Bologna
is worldwide known for some high-tech industrial compartments.
The area surrounding the city is referred to as the “Packaging
Valley”, since about 40% of the world production
of automatic packaging machines is produced in the area
(a value of 2.7 MEuro in 2001).
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Other
well known examples of high-tech companies in the area are:
- automotive
industries (Ferrari, Ducati, Maserati, Magneti Marelli,
North-Holland, …)
- ceramic
tiles and the tissue/fashion companies located
close to Modena
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These
industries, although not directly involved in manufacturing
robots, use robotic systems for their production, and witness
the high consideration for automation and related technologies
(among which, robotics) that is generally found in the area. |
Bologna
– Tourism and more
Besides
the city of Bologna, with its medieval centre rich of cultural
and historical features, Bologna is relatively close to other
important attractions in Italy. In Emila Romagna, the region of
Bologna, there are other cities that can offer unexpected surprises
for the tourist:
- Ravenna,
with its wonderful mosaics, the tomb of Dante Alighieri, and
many other famous monuments (http://www.ravennamosaici.it);
- Ferrara
and Modena, with some of the most important churches, palaces
and monuments in Italy;
- San
Marino, one of the smallest independent countries in the world,
founded according to the legend 1702 year ago by the stone cutter
Marino from Dalmazia, called with many other by the Emperor
Diocleziano to reconstruct the city of Rimini (http://www.sanmarinosite.com)
Moreover,
the Adriatic coast, with its well known beaches in Rimini, Riccione,
Cesenatico, is only 100 km away, and September is still a very
good period for visiting the coast.
From
Bologna it is quite simple to reach, by train, car or plane, the
most famous Italian cities. Venice, Milan, Florence or Padua can
easily be reached from Bologna in less than 2 hours by train (Florence
in less than one hour), while to get to Rome takes about 2.40
hours by train and 45 min. by plane.
Useful
links:
http://www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it
http://www.iperbole.bologna.it/bolognaturismo/english/links
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/Emilia/Bologna.asp
http://www.turismo.ra.it/contenuti/index.php?t=arte
http://www.bologna-airport.it
http://www.trenitalia.it
http://www.atc.bo.it
http://www.turismo.toscana.it
http://www.turista.it/cerca/italia/Veneto
http://www.turismovenezia.it/eng
http://www.italytravelescape.com/general_information_about_bologna.htm
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