Bologna is a city with many exceptional qualities. Perhaps its best-known characteristic is being home to some of the country's finest gastronomic excellence. Anyone arriving here cannot overlook the essential stops for tasting what is produced locally. It is also home to a prestigious and ancient university, which makes it a young and modern city — not to mention its vast and well-preserved artistic and cultural heritage. Spending a few days in the capital of Emilia Romagna is an excellent break in the name of art and good living. Our 10 must-visit places for discovering "La dotta, la grassa, la rossa" — as it is known, respectively, for its famous university, its outstanding cuisine and its red-brick buildings (or its political leanings, according to some).

10 stops in Bologna to discover the best the city has to offer

Bologna is a city best explored on foot, ideally planning a few culinary breaks to savour not only the finest in art and history, but also in gastronomy. Our picks for a break in the name of beauty and flavour.

1. Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica di San Petronio

Piazza Maggiore is the beating heart of Bologna, surrounded by historic buildings such as the Basilica di San Petronio, one of the largest churches in Europe. Inside, the celebrated Cappella musicale di San Petronio is home to its most prestigious symbol: a still-functioning organ that, built around 1470 by Lorenzo da Prato, is the oldest in the world still in use. Also widely visited is the Cappella dei Re Magi (IV), formerly the Bolognini Chapel, whose walls were sumptuously frescoed by Giovanni da Modena with scenes depicting "Paradise" and "Hell". Admission to the basilica itself is free; for other chapels, check the ticket prices and opening hours here.

Visitor tips:

• Look inside the basilica for astronomer Cassini's sundial, which at 67.27 metres is the longest in the world.
• Explore the surrounding streets and admire the Fontana del Nettuno, dedicated to the god of the same name and nicknamed al Żigànt (the Giant).

2. The two towers: Garisenda and Asinelli

Bologna's iconic towers, dating back to the 11th century, stand at the entrance to the ancient Via Emilia. Both served a military purpose (signalling and defence) and their imposing presence represented the social prestige of the family responsible for their construction. Climbing the 498 steps of the Torre degli Asinelli brings you to the top, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city from a height of 97.20 metres. The Torre Garisenda, built at the same time as the other, differs in that it stands only 47 metres tall. It is known for its pronounced lean, caused by subsidence of the ground and foundations.

Visitor tips:

• Both towers are currently closed for restoration.
• For a 360° view of the city, climb the Torre dell'orologio — all the information is here.

3. The Archiginnasio of Bologna and the Anatomical Theatre

The Archiginnasio, the former seat of the University of Bologna, is one of the most significant buildings in the city. Located in the heart of the historic centre, it has housed the Biblioteca Comunale since 1838, as well as the Anatomical Theatre, a remarkable 17th-century wooden anatomical theatre. Inside are the famous statues of the Spellati by Ercole Lelli.

Visitor tips:

• Booking is strongly recommended for a visit to the Anatomical Theatre and is mandatory on Saturdays and public holidays.

4. Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca

The Sanctuary of San Luca, which stands on the Colle della Guardia, has been a symbol of Bologna for centuries as well as a place of religious devotion. It is connected to the city centre by a road that, starting from Porta Saragozza, winds for four kilometres beneath a portico which, with its more than 600 arches, is the longest in the world and, together with the city's other porticoes, was recently designated a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Visitor tips:

• From the sanctuary's panoramic terrace, at a height of approximately 42 metres above the level of the Colle della Guardia (300 metres above sea level), you can enjoy a unique 180-degree view of Bologna, stretching from the hills to the city centre and Casalecchio di Reno.
• If you would rather not walk to the Sanctuary, here are all the other options. There is even a dedicated small train from the city centre.

5. Mercato di Mezzo and Mercato delle Erbe

Eating well in Bologna is important. And the city's markets are the showcase for every gastronomic excellence the area has to offer. The Mercato di mezzo is one of these and, since the Middle Ages, has been a place of flavours and encounter, of trade, memory and culinary tradition. It is the city's first covered market and, following the 2014 regeneration works, is now a space where products can not only be purchased but also consumed on the spot. The Mercato delle erbe is the largest covered market in Bologna's historic centre, where you can find fruit and vegetables, meat, cheeses, cured meats, wines, fish and much more. Both are closed on Sundays for the sale of products, but the restaurants inside remain open for lunch on that day. They are perfect for lunch or dinner in a convivial, traditional setting and for soaking up the atmosphere of Bologna.

6. Museo civico archeologico

The Museo civico archeologico, one of the most prestigious in the city, is housed in the fifteenth-century Palazzo Galvani and is located right in the centre, a short walk from Piazza Maggiore. Opened to the public in 1881, it is best known for its Egyptian collection, the third largest in Italy and among the most important in Europe. Its Roman, Greek and Etruscan-Italic sections are also exceptionally rich. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Visiting tips:

• Don't miss the five Relief Panels from the Tomb of Horemheb — a general in the army during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten who, alongside Tutankhamun, rose to the highest levels of military command before eventually becoming pharaoh himself.
• Another gem is the statue of Nero, discovered in 1513. The sculpture was erected by the people of Bologna in homage to the Emperor who had funded the city's reconstruction following the fire of 53 AD.

7. Finestrella di via Piella

Passing through Porta Govese, or Torresotto dei Piella, you reach the famous little window overlooking the Canale delle Moline and the bridge over the canal, both offering views of the water. This corner of the city is known as "little Venice". Peering between the buildings, you can see one of the few stretches of water that was not paved over between the early twentieth century and the postwar period. The Canale delle Moline is the continuation of the Canale di Reno. For much of its course the Canale delle Moline is enclosed between buildings, as can be seen from the little window, which is why it long remained hidden from view. More recently, the vantage points on the bridges of Via Oberdan and Via Malcontenti have been reopened, joining the evocative little window of Via Piella.

Visiting tips:

• Try to visit the little window early in the morning or after lunch, when the area is less crowded with tourists, so you can take your photograph in peace.

8. Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna

The Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna is a few minutes' walk from the Due Torri, inside the former Jesuit Novitiate of Sant'Ignazio dating from 1600. Its collection includes works by some of the most important Italian artists of the Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque periods, such as Raphael, Perugino, Tintoretto, Titian, the Carracci, Guercino and Reni. At the annexe in Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande — unfortunately now closed for restoration — it is possible to admire the splendidly frescoed rooms by the leading figures of Bologna's great decorative tradition between the second half of the seventeenth century and the early decades of the following one.

Visiting tips:

• Look out for the Bologna Polyptych by Giotto, a fine example of refinement in the rendering of detail and elegance of ornament.
• The Pinacoteca is closed on Mondays.

9. Complesso di Santo Stefano

The Santo Stefano complex is Bologna's most singular, known above all as the "seven churches" because it is formed by the union of several buildings that arose in different periods. Facing onto the piazza are the Chiesa del Crocifisso, of Lombard origin, the Calvario and the SS. Vitale e Agricola, and the Chiesa della Trinità, restructured between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Inside, visitors can also admire the Cortile di Pilato, with a marble basin donated by Liutprand and Hilprand, kings of the Lombards, and the Benedictine cloister with its double loggia (10th–13th century), one of the finest creations of Emilian Romanesque architecture. Also worth visiting is the Museo, which preserves paintings, sculptures and other works of art from various periods.

Visiting tips:

• On certain days of the month, free guided tours are organised in the afternoon; more information here.

10. Parco della Montagnola

This is the city's oldest public garden, for centuries a place for strolling and a venue for events, games and sporting competitions. Its current design dates back to the early 1800s, when at Napoleon's express wish it was redesigned by G. B. Martinetti along geometries inspired by French formal gardens. In 1896 the