Ancient origins, which are lost in prehistory, Bologna has been always an important economic and culture center. It was founded around the sixth century BC by the Etruscans who gave it the name Felsinea. Important evidence of the Etruscan civilization are the tombs of the necropolis still visited today.
Subsequently occupied by the gallic tribes was renamed "Bononia". Subsequently became a Roman colony. The importance of the city as a node of communication, was immediately recognized by the Romans, so that in 187 BC Consul M. Emilio Lepido built the Via Emilia, joining Bononia, Rimini and Piacenza.
In the early years of the Mille was founded the study of law from which originated the famous University.
It has been the first city in the region to proclaim itself a free commune.
After the 1200 Bologna passes a period of great prosperity and expansion from the point of view the building with the construction of many towers and tower houses.
Over the centuries most of these towers were destroyed with exceptions for example of the Tower Garisenda and Tower Asinelli (known as the tallest leaning tower in Italy) even today a symbol of the city.
Became a major center for reciprocal trading through channels that permitted the transit of large quantities of goods.
Some of these channels are still existing, albeit almost completely buried in their city tour, and practicable through guided tours.
In the fourteenth century were built the walls that even today, some partially reconstructed, are surrounding the city.
Even today Bologna preserves traces of past civilizations, the imprint of the medieval splendor, and its medieval urban layout.
Its historic center is one of the best preserved in Europe, rich in ancient buildings, monuments, churches.
Under many houses of Bologna can still be found the foundations of the Roman city.
Another particular architectural feature of this city are the arcades, built during the century and even more fascinating because this demonstration of architectural styles (those wooden Roman, Gothic those of 300 to 400 and those of the Baroque period) that "cover" every street in the historical centre. It has the longest arcade in the world, climbing the hill for about 4 km of the Guard, reaching the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, that dominates the city.
In addition to its characteristics of the medieval city Bologna is a place of interest among travelers for its renowned cuisine that has earned her the title of the Bologna the Fat than that of the "Bologna the Learned," this last title assigned to the famous University.
