Sunday 1st May

Although it rained quite heavily overnight and we thought our first day in Bologna could be a bit damp we woke to a fine, calm, spring Bologna day and after a bit of a lie in ( it was Sunday ) we set forth on foot to the historic section of Bologna.
It's not that far, some couple of hundred meters through the porticos which feature here. Soon we were in the Piazza Maggiore where we found a jewelery market and a political rally ( it was May Day today ) and a heap of people. A lot of tourists in the heap - something we haven't experienced for a while. Strange to be jostling for the best photo position.
There is a lot to talk about Bologna. It appears to be a big place but you can walk from one end to the other, I would guess, in an hour. The buildings are big, the Piazzas are big, it is a University place from way back (in fact the first University in the western world, if not the world was established here in 1088) and a lot of student types in town, and restaurants, osterias, cafes and bars and what are called birrerias ( beer places) abound in the area around the centre of town.
Here are some photographs of what we saw.

May Day crown in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna

One of a few modern sculptures just off Piazza Maggiore

Gate over Porta to side entrance of Palazzo d' Accursio in Piazza Maggiore

Typical Portico'd sreet in Bologna

The "Symbol" of Bologna - Le Due Torri. Two of the remaining 200 or so towers of Bologna. The taller one is being restored hence the protective wrapping

The smaller tower doing a Pisa

Ann in a not so comfy stone carved chair

The stone chair. No, it rained before Ann sat in it.

Typical Bologna street scene.