Bologna, Italy
44.4949° N, 11.3426° E
La Grassa, The Fat
La Rosso, The Red
Field Documentary
Fun Facts
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Food: Pesche all'Alchermes, Mortadella
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Drink: Cioccolato Caldo (Hot chocolate)
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Bologna is known as The Grassa, or the Fat because of all the beautiful, delicious treats you can sample! Mortadella, Prosciutto, Parmigiana, Bolognese, Tortelloni, all local favorites!
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Bologna is known as la Rosso because so much of its architecture is of a red color
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Bologna at one time had over 100 towers, represented a wealthy family's influence but also served as protection and security during periods of civil unrest
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Bologna is known for its university, both Machiavelli and Descartes studied here
The Food
It was love at first sight for me. Ya know when you see something and you just know you're going to love it? These are moist soft cakes with custard in the middle and infused with Alchemes, an herbaceous liqueur that give them their color.
Mortadella
​As a seasoned mortadella lover it was my main motivation for my stay in Bologna. It truly was even better here. The flavor packed a bigger punch, it was more tender. All around just lovely. Recommend pairing with Prosecco!
Cioccolato Caldo
Sure, hot chocolate, what's not to love right? But oh wow was this different! Yes, that is a thick layer of whipped cream on top and yes, it makes all the difference in the world. The hot chocolate itself was thick and rich and so surprising!
Tagliatelle Bolognese
It's in the name! Bologna is famous for Bolognese, in red and white. This one was my favorite, as it was very saucy, my preference.
The Spots
The places that made me feel like a local
Sweet service and delicious mortadella sandwiches, pair with prosecco!
Pesche all'Alchermes! Quaint with great service.
I know what you're thinking because I was thinking it too at first...but it was a Friday night and no tables were available anywhere else. It felt local, its in a bookstore and the pasta dish was one of the better ones I had!
Taking the trash out early in the morning with nearly empty streets, it is so cold I can see my breath and I didn't bring my jacket because I thought it will be a fast trash run, so I'm urging my legs to go faster than they are ready for at this hour. I spot a mom pushing a stroller, and from it hear "Mama Mia" from the little girl. But it must be what I want to hear to distract myself from the cold?
At a cafe sitting under a tent with the other customers, huddled under heat lamps while the church bells party for 30 minutes
Getting a cappuccino at the train station to work (since there is no lounge at Bologna, I know right?) I see that my table is dirty and ask the woman behind the counter if I can have a wet towel to clean it. I get a blank expression, so I try spanish, nothing. So I say never mind and do my best to clean it. After a few minutes she comes with a wet towel and cleans the table. Asks me something in Italian and it is my turn to have a blank expression. Then suddenly, I am struck by the Italian I just learned for I don't know. We both start laughing hysterically because I have just confirmed what she already understood, that I had no idea what she was saying, but now in her own language.