Siena and Bologna are two cities that offer very different experiences. Bologna is a large city to the north of Florence and Siena is a smaller city to the south of Florence. Here is the ultimate guide to whether you should visit Siena or Bologna.
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Siena or Bologna Overview
Siena is a city in Tuscany with a population of 55,000. The historic city center of Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city holds the world-famous Palio horse race in its main city square. Campo Square, the main square, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Italy. Siena is known for its medieval architecture and it also does not allow cars within the walls of the city. For being such a small city compared to other historic cities in Italy, Siena is home to an abundance of beautiful buildings and landmarks.
Bologna is the 7th largest city in Italy with nearly 400,000 people living there. Its historic city center is 350 acres big, making it Europe’s second-largest. The city’s most recognizable landmarks are the towers of Bologna. The University of Bologna is the oldest continuously run university in the world, originally opening in 1088 AD. Even to this day, Bologna is a university city with over 100,000 students. Bologna’s, Basilica of San Petronio, is one of the largest churches in the world by volume. The church started construction in 1390 and remains unfinished to this day.
Places to See
Siena
Piazza del Campo is one of the most famous city squares in Europe. It is known for holding a bare-back horse race called the Palio.
Torre del Mangia is a tower overlooking the Campo Plaza. It was completed in 1348.
Siena Cathedral is a medieval Catholic church completed in 1348.
Siena Baptistery of San Giovanni is known for its beautiful interior with works from some of the time’s greatest artists, including Donatello.
Bologna
Piazza Maggiore is the central square in Bologna. Some of the city’s most famous buildings surround the square.
The Bologna Towers are the most iconic structures in Bologna. The tallest of the two towers is one of the tallest leaning structures in the world.
Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca is a basilica just outside of Bologna. It sits on a hill overlooking the city.
The University of Bologna is the oldest continuously run university in the world. It was founded in 1088.
Food
Siena
Sometimes referred to as the original garlic bread, Bruschetta is bread topped with basil, olive oil, and fresh tomatoes. Of course in Tuscany, you need to have your fair share of pasta. Pappardelle sulla lepre is a dish of thick strips of pasta with either hare sauce or hare meat. Arista is another traditional dish in Siena. Arista is a roast pork loin sliced up and topped with gravy, garlic, and wine.
Bologna
Bologna is known around the world for having spectacular cuisines. Typical cuisines found in Bologna consist of egg-based pasta and a lot of meat and cheese. Mortadella is a large sausage used to make thin-sliced lunch meat. It is the predecessor of the famous baloney sandwich that is popular in North America. For breakfast, cornettos are extremely popular sometimes with a cream-filled center.
Getting Around
Siena
There is a system of buses that can move you around the city. People usually only use public transportation here to get from the train station to just outside of the city walls. Taxis to the city center are also a popular option if you don’t want to wait for a bus. Siena is an extremely walkable city to explore once you are within the city’s walls because no automobiles are allowed in there.
Bologna
Having one of the largest historic city centers in Europe, much can be seen on foot in Bologna. If you want to take public transportation, there is a large network of buses you can utilize. You can get tickets to public transport at newspaper kiosks, train stations or at many of the bars. The City Pass which costs 12 Euros for 10 rides, might be the most cost-effective option for you. Because Bologna is a university city, biking is popular and is also an excellent option for getting around.
Nightlife
Siena is not a destination for people to go if you want a crazy night of drinking and partying. Although the city is on the smaller side, there are quite a few bars and pubs that you can experience. Most of the nightlife is laid back and can be found within the old town. Al Cambio is where many of the university students go to experience the nightly live music.
Bologna
Bologna is a university city with over 100,000 students which is a good indicator that there will be some very lively nightlife. As you would expect, there are bars and pubs scattered throughout the city but the highest concentration is found in the city center. If you are into the clubbing scene, be sure to go to Matis which is known for bringing in international DJs and a lively crowd. Kinki is another famous club within the city, famous for having Jimmy Hendrix do a performance there.
Day Trips
Siena
Arezzo is a city known for its large plaza and the Medici Fortress overlooking the city. It is sometimes called the smaller Florence.
Pisa is less than 2 hours from Siena and would make an excellent day trip.
Florence is just over an hour to the north of Siena. If you visit Siena, you should put enough time aside to spend at least a couple of days in Florence.
You could also head south to Rome if you have time to explore.
Bologna
Parma is a city just to the west of Bologna. It is known for being the birthplace of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
San Marino is 1 hour and 40 minutes away from Bologna by car. It is one of the smallest countries in the world.
Ferrara is a city known for its Este Castle and Diamanti Palace.
Venice is less than two hours away from Bologna and would make for an excellent excursion.
Overall
Siena and Bologna are two cities full of history, incredible landmarks, and beautiful architecture. They are both two of the most popular day trips from Florence. Siena is a small city that is easily walkable. Bologna is a fairly large city that may be overwhelming for just one day. If you are planning to fill multiple days, Bologna will have more to see and do. If you are having a hard time deciding between Siena or Bologna, I hope this guide helped.