Bologna

History

How the city came to be

Bologna's historical layers run from Etruscan and Roman times to the present; the Roman city was called Bononia. The Middle Ages were a particularly vivid period: from the 11th century onwards, legal studies and student organisations gradually developed, and 1088 has been adopted by the University of Bologna as the conventional year of its founding. Commercial activity and population growth led to the steady extension of porticoes along the streets, and towers became symbols of defence and family status. The Asinelli Tower was built in the early 12th century; city statutes of 1288 show that porticoes had become part of public passage and urban order. In the 16th century, university teaching was gradually brought together from scattered spaces into the Archiginnasio, which came into use in 1563. Bombing in the Second World War damaged the palace, which was later restored. In 2021, 12 groups of porticoes representing different periods and functions were inscribed as World Heritage, while the porticoes across the city total about 62 kilometres. Walking among them today, it is best to see the university, the shopping streets and everyday shelter from the rain as interconnected parts of the city's history.

1. Roman periodThe ancient city was called Bononia.
2. c. 1088The University of Bologna adopts this year as the conventional date of its founding.
3. 1109–1119The Asinelli Tower is built.
4. 1288City statutes reflect the porticoes' function as public passageways.
5. 1563The Archiginnasio comes into use as the university's central teaching venue.
6. 1944The Archiginnasio is severely damaged by bombing and later restored.
7. 202112 component parts of the Porticoes of Bologna are inscribed as World Heritage.
8. From 2023Monitoring and restoration work begins around the Two Towers, and the Asinelli Tower is closed.