Dialect
Why “Socmel”?
The most Bolognese word there is: an all-purpose exclamation for surprise, admiration and everything in between. Here’s why we named the site after it.
Read the articleBologna the Learned, the Fat, the Red
Socmel, what a city!
Towers, porticoes, tortellini, local legends and dialect words. A fond and slightly cheeky guide to Bologna, for locals and visitors alike.
Bologna to take home
Ideas for a Bolognese gift, or for your next trip to the city.
See our suggestions-
In the kitchen, Bologna style
Long pasta rolling pin, Wooden pastry board, Pasta cutting wheel
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Flavours to give
Mortadella Bologna PGI, Aged Parmigiano Reggiano, Traditional balsamic vinegar
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Books, music and dialect
Lucio Dalla records, Bolognese dialect dictionary, Bologna travel guide
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For your trip
Comfortable city shoes, Folding umbrella, Water bottle
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Latest stories
Practical info
Bologna in one day: the right route
From Piazza Maggiore to sunset at San Luca: a walking route to see the best of the city in a single day, with stops to eat.
Practical info
From the airport to central Bologna
Marconi Express, taxi or walking from the station: how to get into the city from Guglielmo Marconi airport, how much it costs and how long it takes.
Practical info
When to come: a year of festivities in Bologna
From burning the “Vecchione” on New Year’s Eve to free open-air cinema in summer: the events that bring the city to life every year.
Sights
The Two Towers: Asinelli and Garisenda
Bologna’s symbol: a very tall tower and a shorter, leaning sister that even Dante wrote about. History, numbers and what to know before you go today.
Sights
The porticoes: 62 kilometres of umbrella
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. Born to make room for students, today they are the city’s living room – and they lead all the way up to San Luca.
Curiosities & legends
The three secrets of Bologna
An arrow stuck in a ceiling, a little window over a canal and a medieval “telephone”. Do you know them all?