Best museums in Bologna

One of the best things to do in Bologna is to visit the various museums dotted around the city. You have to take into account that the historic centre of this town is the second largest in Italy and this means that cultural institutions abound in every corner of the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region.

So to make it easier for you to decide which museums you would like to visit on a trip to Bologna I have compiled the best of them all so that you can narrow down your choices favourably. This will make the logistics and organisation of your time much more pleasant when it comes to visiting most of these sites.

It is important to understand that in Italy there are two types of museums. The main ones are in Rome, which is logical, as it is the capital of the country and the most visited city of all. Those in other cities in the territory are known as provincial museums and if we focus on this category, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna stands out as one of the best in Italy.

This museum through its 30 rooms houses the academy of fine arts of the city and also the superintendence in charge of preserving the cultural heritage of the region. In fact most of the collections available are centred on the art of the Emilia-Romagna region. Especially what was developed in a wide historical period from the 13th century to the beginning of the 19th century.

Among the works that can be highlighted in the collection of the National Gallery of Bologna is the work Saint Cecilia painted by Raphael who was one of the great representatives of the Italian Renaissance. The Portrait of a Lady by Guido Reni is another of the site's treasures. Moreover, its location in the heart of the university city makes it a very convenient stop when you decide to take part in one of the best tours of Bologna.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via delle Belle Arti, 56, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy.
• Price: Tickets cost around €2 for those aged 18-25 while the regular rate for seniors is around €6 per person.
• Opening hours: This museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday at different times. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are open from 9am to 2pm. From Thursday to Sunday they are open from 10am to 7pm. However, the opening hours change during the summer season.

This museum opened in 1998 and consists of an exhibition that seeks to tell the story of the Ducati company, a manufacturer of Italian luxury motorbikes, from four different perspectives. One of the exhibits focuses on the facts, people and technological innovations that shaped the company's success.

Another attempts to delve a little deeper into the origins of the family behind Ducati as a brand. There is also an exhibition geared towards the history of racing motorbikes and the significant influence this company has had on the industry. Finally, there is also an exhibition focusing on Ducati's history as a leading racing brand around the world.

You should know that the museum is based inside the Ducati factory itself and the whole thing is located on the western edge of Bologna. So visiting this museum is a very exciting experience for true motorcycling fans and even if you are not one of them you are likely to be left wanting to participate in some of the best excursions from Bologna that involve these beautiful motorbikes in some way.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via Antonio Cavalieri Ducati, 3, 40132 Bologna BO, Italy.
• Price: Museum fees vary depending on whether you want a guided tour or access to the Ducati factory. Prices range from a standard ticket price of 15 euros to a special ticket price of 35 euros.
• Opening hours: The museum is open every day of the week except Wednesdays from nine in the morning until six in the evening. However, opening hours may change slightly during the summer tourist season.

Many people agree that the Zoological Museum of Bologna is one of the great surprises of tourism in the city. It is an institution very close to the Teatro Comunale of Bologna and the Pinacoteca Nazionale. It is dedicated to the study of zoology as a natural science.

The collection as such consists of a large number of taxidermied animals including seals, rhinoceroses, penguins, ostriches and all kinds of species from most corners of the planet. At the same time it stands out for the fact that it can be visited in its entirety in a relatively short time and also for its free entrance fees.

Its strategic location in the heart of the university city means that it can be accompanied by a visit to other attractions on the same day. Another activity you could do on the day you decide to visit the zoological museum are the best gastronomic tours in Bologna. Especially for the fact that you would already be saving money on the entrance fee for this attraction.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via Francesco Selmi, 3, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy.
• Price: Admission is free for everyone regardless of age.
• Opening Hours: This museum is open every day of the week except Tuesdays and Saturdays from nine A.M. to one in the afternoon. On Sundays there are exceptions, as the opening hours are extended until six o'clock in the afternoon. Summer opening hours usually change slightly.

The Museo della Especolla is one of the most interesting museums in Bologna and is housed in the astronomical tower built in the early 18th century in the Palazzo Poggi. Nowadays it belongs to the astronomy department of the University of Bologna and by visiting it you will not only enjoy important details of the history of universal astronomy, but also one of the most privileged views of Bologna's city centre panorama.

You should know that visits are guided and the biggest drawback may be climbing all the steps leading to the observation deck at the top of the tower. Either way, a visit to this place is one of the best things to do in Bologna during autumn knowing that the influx of tourists drops significantly and you won't have as much waiting time.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via Zamboni, 33 - 40126 Bologna.
• Price: Admission to the museum costs 5 euros and depending on the time of year you are likely to get more or less guided tours in both Italian and English. These are organised by students from the University of Bologna.
• Opening hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday with opening hours that vary according to the season.

The Museum of Modern Art in B ologna is one of the most interesting museums dedicated to this period of plastic art in Italy. It is known by its acronym, MAMbo, which is its insignia in front of other renowned art institutions such as the MOMA or the Tate.

The museum's collection includes a large number of works by both local and foreign artists. However, it is worth noting that there is a very important survey of the history of Italian art from the post-war period to the present day which is continually being developed.

The museum's temporary exhibitions are also often just as significant as its permanent collection and its location at the northern end of the central city centre makes Boloni's Hop On Hop Off buses anexcellent resource for reaching this area of the city.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 14, 40121
• Price: Visitors between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five pay five euros while full admission for everyone else costs approximately six euros.
• Opening hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 2pm to 7 or 8pm. Although there is the exception of weekends when it is open from 10 A.M.

The Museo Civico Medievale di Bologna is an institution that is dedicated to exploring the history of the medieval period and how it influenced the building of Bologna. As well as the flourishing of many other Italian towns that would later grow to be the cities of today in the renaissance.

There are several rooms in the museum's collection and some are focused on the history of Bologna, others on Italian medieval history as a whole and there are others that focus specifically on the history and founding of the museum. You also have to know that visiting this museum is one of the best things to do in the summer in Bologna for the fact that it is not as crowded as others and at the same time it is a safe escape from the high temperatures that define this time of the year.

Details of interest:

• Location: Palazzo Ghisilardi Fava, Via Manzoni, 4, 40121 Bologna BO, Italy.
• Price: General admission tickets cost approximately six euros while those aged 18-25 pay two euros as with other similar attractions in the city.
• Opening hours: The museum is usually open every day of the week except Mondays. On weekends it is open until 7pm, while on other days it closes at 2pm.

This museum located on the western edge of Bologna is an institution dedicated to contemporary art as well as technology, artistic experimentation and photography. The home of this art gallery is an architectural gem in its own right and special exhibitions and talks are held here throughout the year as it is one of the most contemporary and modernist environments in the city.

It is an excellent idea to visit if you consider yourself a fan of art as well as the connection that exists today within any aspect of creativity. You have to know that it is a private institution and at the same time belongs to a cultural and philanthropic foundation that promotes the art of youth.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via Speranza, 42, 40133 Bologna BO, Italy
• Price: Admission to this site is completely free all year round and is usually kept this way for the biennial which is organised with a different theme every year.
• Opening hours: This art gallery is open every day of the week except Mondays from 10 am to 7 pm. The opening hours remain the same throughout the year, even in summer.

This palace at the southern end of Bologna's city centre is a Renaissance-style building dating back to the 16th century. Today it is one of the best places to explore the architectural legacy of the city along with its history.

The palace itself has a large collection of frescoes that have been accumulated throughout its existence and through its art you can appreciate different periods such as Gothic and Baroque.

Visiting it is one of the best things to do in Bologna during the spring because of its strategic location that brings you considerably closer to one of the many public parks in the south of the city. In fact when you access one of the palace's exhibitions you can enjoy a tour of its beautiful gardens.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via Saragozza, 28, 40123 Bologna BO, Italy
• Price: Prices to enter this palace always depend on the temporary art exhibitions that are taking place.
• Opening hours: Visiting the palace depends directly on the art exhibitions that are taking place there. However, there is not a single month of the year when there is not a cultural event at this site.

This museum is one of Bologna's finest automotive museums and is dedicated to exploring the history behind the making of the famous Lamborghini automobile company. The museum exhibits everything from the first tractors to the most famous luxury cars of today. At the same time it explores the history behind the success of this famous car brand thanks to the perseverance of its founder.

You should know that the museum as such is not located within the city of Bologna, but in a small village located a couple of kilometres north in the direction of the city of Ferrara. However, a short bus or taxi ride will get you there in less than 25 minutes.

Details of interest:

• Location: Strada provinciale 4 Galliera Sud, 319, 40050 Casette di Funo BO, Italy.
• Price: Conventional tickets cost about 15 euros per person while reduced admission for children up to 14 years is about 10 euros. Guided tours have to meet the conditions of a minimum group size of 30 people and cost around 23 euros for each participant.
• Opening hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. You should know that between one and two in the afternoon there is a small closure and this means that you will not be able to find yourself inside.

This is perhaps one of the most curious and at the same time most interesting museums in Bologna. It is a place dedicated to exhibiting pieces and objects from a plane that crashed in an unsolved accident in 1980.

For many people it is one of the great treasures of the city because of its interesting approach to a real tragedy that at the time shocked the community. At the same time, its strategic location in the centre of the Bolognina makes it an excellent place to enjoy before taking part in the best things to do in Bologna at night.

This neighbourhood is a favourite party area for university students as well as for the city's alternative community.

Details of interest:

• Location: Via di Saliceto, 3/22, 40128 Bologna BO, Italy.
• Price: Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this museum is that admission is completely free for all visitors.
• Opening hours: The museum is open from Thursday to Sunday at different times. On Thursdays and Fridays it opens at 9:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon. Saturdays and Sundays the museum is open from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.