Giant Snake

Among all Italian cities it seems that only Bologna can boast of so many different nicknames. Some people call Bologna “Red” (la rossa) due to the large number of ancient buildings with the red tiled roofs. The European oldest university operating in Bologna is a good reason to call the city “Erudite” (la dotta). And delicious cuisine represented with mortadella, tortellini and all kinds of pasta make Bologna famous as “Fat” city (la grassa). In fact, each tourist, after visiting the city, will remember its own Bologna, and the city nicknames could be countless. For instance, someone can call Bologna:Endless porticos with marble floors and gracefully painted ceilings are one of the main features of Bologna. Even in the hottest heat, you can take a pleasant stroll through almost the whole city staying in the cool shade of porticos.You might even get an impression that Bologna is devoid of sky, since almost every sidewalk is completely covered with arcades. In fact, Bologna is the city with the longest arcades in the world! In total they have a length of about 40 km, whereas the closest competitor Swiss city Bern can boast of only 8 km of arcades.Thanks to numerous picturesque porticos, Bologna looks like a one big open-air museum. Despite its large quantity, porticos don’t create an impression of monotony, since they were built in different architectural styles in different historical periods.While wandering through Bologna streets, you’ll even notice the oldest arcades with the wooden columns. Pay special attention to the ceilings. Some porticos are richly decorated with ancient paintings or stucco molding by famous Italian artists.It’s interesting to know that absolutely all porticos in Bologna have a minimum height of 2.66 meters which is equal to the height of average rider on the horse. Another curious fact is that the longest portico in Bologna, leading to the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca, consists of exactly 666 arches.Although most people think there are only two towers in Bologna, their actual number is 21. During the Middle Ages, there were probably 80 or even 180 towers (scientists still can’t reach a consensus on their exact quantity). Reasons of construction of such towers aren’t clear either. According to the one version, towers were built in defensive purposes. But some historians also think that towers had social value. Only the wealthiest families could afford to build tall towers.Nowadays, the most famous towers in Bologna are Asinelli and Garisenda. They are located close to each other and have a height of 97 and 48 meters respectively. Even with the naked eye, it’s quite noticeable thatboth towers are slightly inclined. In fact, the Asinelli Tower, having a tilt of 2.4 meters, is considered the highest leaning tower in the world.Bologna residents have no idea why tower in Pisa is more recognizable, although it is only 57 meters high and technically isn’t tower at all, but a belfry. The Asinelli Tower is open for all comers. It’s quipped with an observation desk offering the best views of the city. The admission isn’t free. But a small fee of about 3 EUR is definitely worth those feelings you’ll experience while climbing 498 wobbly wooden stairs inside the narrow almost thousand years old tower! Almost on every street and every square, there are dozens of parked scooters. Perhaps, the main reasons of such abundance of scooters are quite narrow streets as well as ahuge number of students living in the city. Scooter is a convenient and easy to drive vehicle most young people can afford. If you also don’t mind to explore Bologna and surroundings with minimal efforts, you can rent a car. As a rule, the widest choice of rental vehicles is at the airport. All types of cars from mini to luxury ones can be easily booked online in advance.There are two different museums dedicated to Lamborghini not far from Bologna. The first one is the Museum of Ferruccio Lamborghini located in 18 km from the Bologna Airport. The second one is the Lamborghini Museum at operating factory in 24 km from the city. Let’s take a closer look at each of the museums.In the Museum of Ferruccio Lamborghini, you’ll learn more about the life of the brilliant designer who presented the world a huge number of various inventions from ordinary tractors to futuristic supercars. With the help of various rare car models and collection of photographs and original family items represented in the museum, visitor dives into the past and enjoys the results of the work of one of the brightest minds and innovators of the global automotive industry. Among the main masterpieces stored in the museum are legendary cars Topolino Mille Miglia, Islero, Jalpa and Urraco as well as Espada 1968 with the four doors opening as the seagull’s wings.Whereas Ferruccio Lamborghini Museums is designed in honor of the genius inventor, the Lamborghini Museum located at the factory in Santa’Agata is dedicated firstly to the sports cars themselves. Here you’ll see the very first model assembled by Ferruccio himself, first car that overcame the barrier of 300km/h and a collection of the most successful Lamborghini cars. For additional fee, visitors can also enjoy an excursion on the factory itself. Moreover, there is even a service station where only factory mechanics work.In 2010, the world’s first ice-cream museum was founded in Bologna. It offers an exciting way to get acquainted with the history and production technology of this wonderful treat. Thus, many city visitors have already remembered Bologna as a place where they made their first real ice-cream. And there is a chance that very soon Bologna will get its next nickname of the city of ice-cream.The list of Bologna nicknames can consist of countless lines, since the city has many faces, and every its visitor will be able to discover a completely new Bologna. Perhaps very soon Bologna will get a new name as a city where you spent the most remarkable holiday of your life!Dublin is a city bursting with culture – you just need to look around and you’ll be stunned at the wide variety of things to do and learn about the capital. The city experts at the Dublin Pass have looked outside the guidebook and downtrodden tourist path, veering away from your typical museums and attractions in favour of quirky and little museums of Dublin. Let’s look at some of the best in their category; from little Irish leprechauns to celebrating the history of the capital through the ages – here are our top peculiar museums in Dublin.The Little Museum of Dublin is otherwise known as the ‘people’s museum of Dublin’ and is a treasure trove of collected items from those who’ve lived in Dublin over the years. It’s a true museum curated by the people, for the people and its exhibits and collections are an eclectic mix of donations from knick knacks, photographs, advertising, letters and collectables – a real smorgasbord of social and cultural history of Dublin from the 1900s-2000s. You can even join in on a guided tour to learn about the most important items in the museum and their significance in the history of Dublin.If you want to learn about Dublin through the ages, wind back the clock past the Middle Ages, all the way back to the Vikings – the first settlers in Dublin. Learn about these hardy warriors as they fought for their territory in 841 when they named the city Dyflin, meaning Black Pool. This fascinating Viking Exhibition looks at the day to day life of the Irish Vikings, from their clothes, to their tools, learning about them through legacies past down. Fast forward a few years and discover Dublin in the Middle Ages over 700 years ago when the city was a dirty bustling trader town during the Strongbow and the Reformation movements.It might not be little, but it’s certainly quirky! Visit the Guinness Storehouse for a true experience of Irish culture. You’re welcomed into a huge atrium designed to be the largest pint glass in the world and over seven storeys you are taught about the history of Guinness from how it’s made and manufactured, to its advertising and social history, and ending on a high at the Gravity Bar, where you can learn to pour the perfect pint. This museum is a great place to learn about the ins and outs of one of the most popular drinks in the country, and all in the name of culture…!Dublin is famous for being a city with stunning historic Georgian architecture with evidence everywhere you look. One of the best examples of this is Number Twenty Nine, Dublin’s official Georgian House Museum which has been restored to its former glory to bring to life the years between 1790 and 1820. Its unmistakable décor and artefacts are so reminiscent of the Georgian era you really will feel like you’ve travelled back through time. Join in on a guided tour to learn more about the population boom in Dublin during these formative years, as well as the physical reminders that were left behind even after the period was over.It’s no surprise that Dublin is a city with such strong literary history and heritage. You only need to name some of the most influential writers of our time such as Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats and Samuel Beckett to understand the huge legacy they have left to the city. Step inside this beautiful Georgian museum to uncover the stories behind some of the countries Nobel Prize winners and heroes. See personal letters, artefacts, historic and priceless objects and learn about the history of Dublin and Ireland between 1700s-end of the 19th century and the profound impact it had on writers during that time. Visit the Gorham Library containing rare copies and first editions of some of the most important works and pop your head around the corner into the Gallery of Writers to see sculptures, paintings and busts of these famous literary legends.You might think this museum is a bit of a gimmick, and maybe it is, but it certainly falls under one of the more quirky museums in Dublin. Learn about the tall tale of this Irish legend who’s been around in literature and common culture for thousands of years. This museum explores the characters in Irish mythology and opens up a world of fun, magic and folklore. Join in on a guided tour which will bring these stories to life, from how the character came about, to his modern day representation and significance. It’s a fun museum to learn a little more about Ireland’s folklore and mythology – no matter your beliefs!From tall tales, to literary legends, Viking history and Georgian heritage, Dublin’s quirky and little museums give a fascinating insight into the multifaceted culture of this capital. You certainly won’t be bored if you dare to venture off the beaten tourist track!

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