The city centre, enclosed by the central ring road, is startlingly medieval in plan, a jumble of red brick, tiled roofs and balconies radiating out from the great central square of Piazza Maggiore. There are enough monuments and curiosities for several days' leisured exploration, but Bologna is really enjoyable just for itself, since there's always something happening - be it theatre, music, a summer festival, or just the typical cafes and bars. The City Bologna's city centre is quite compact, with most things of interest within the main ring road. From the train station, follow via dell' Indipendenza, one of Bologna's main thoroughfares, lined with cinemas and bars and always busy, to Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno. If you go right, you get to the shops and offices of Viale G. Marconi; if you go left you can explore the university area. The one thing you will notice quickly is how well preserved the city centre actually is, and although this can be frustrating too - it's not unusual to find notices on churches suggesting you return in a year's time - the reward is a city centre that is a joy to stroll through. Above all you'll notice the city's famous porticoes - ochre-colored, vaulted colonnades lining every street in the city centre that make a vivid impression at night, and during the day provide an unofficial catwalk for Bologna's well tuned-out residents.
Notable buildings include the Cathedral of San Pietro, the huge Gothic Church of San Petronio, numerous palaces and the Leaning Towers of the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. The city is also the home of Bolognese meat sauce and the Bologna sausage.
