I've been to Italy 16 times. There's one city I always recommend to first-time visitors.
A travel writer shares their personal recommendation for visiting Bologna, Italy, highlighting its superior food scene and architectural beauty. The author contrasts the city's authentic culinary experiences with more traditional tourist destinations like Rome or Venice.
Why it matters
Offers travel inspiration for tourists seeking authentic cultural and culinary experiences in Italy beyond the standard 'big three' cities.
After visiting Italy 16 times, Bologna is the city that stands out to me the most. emicristea/iStock I've traveled to Italy 16 times, but my favorite city in the whole country is Bologna. Not only does it have incredible food, but it's also full of stunning architecture. Plus, Bologna is just a short train ride away from Milan, Venice, and Florence. I've been to Italy 16 times, and if you give me an opening, I can work it into just about any conversation. But surprisingly, it wasn't Venice, Rome, or the Amalfi Coast that made me fall head over heels for the country. It was Bologna, the capital of northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. Bologna has it all — food, wine, art, history, architecture, and the kind of energy that makes you seriously consider missing your flight home.
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