On the lengthy winter afternoons, I especially long for that special time, you know, when you just curl up on the sofa with dim light, a book and some mellow music. I obviously have all of this at home, especially some pretty amazing books that are looking at me with disdain from shelves and tabletops, … More Ciao ciao Soho House, in Bologna we have Capire
Despite the current conversation on overtourism and the recent explosion of mediocre places targeting the less sophisticated tourists, Bologna is still that place where you can find little gems hidden inside a historical palazzo. Magic bubbles where you can retreat for a couple of hours, surrounded by books, beauty, culture and a quaint atmosphere, for … More A collector’s quaint art library becomes a public space. Welcome to Biblioteca Eugenio Busmanti.
Living in the historical center of bologna offers many advantages, from the cozy feeling provided by the porticoes to the possibility to go on foot practically everywhere (plus, well, the thrill to have a front-row view of a slowly collapsing tower). And if you are, like me, addicted to ancient grains bread, ugly-but-tasty seasonal fruits … More Farmer’s map: a weekly tour of Bologna’s farmers markets
In the lively evenings of Bologna’s university life, Via Mascarella stands out as one of the most vibrant streets, featuring attractions such as the small-scale multiplex cinema Odeon and landmarks of nightlife and culture like Modo bookshop and bar, Ortica, and Mustache, to name a few. However, during the day, it transforms into a much … More Long before Greta Gerwig, Barbie was celebrated by this hair salon in Bologna
For the ancient Greeks, painters were “property of the Universe”. The Romans on the other hand, much more interested in sculpture and architecture, considered them little more than artisans and didn’t even care about their names. I pittori di Pompei, the latest exhibition of Bologna’s Archeological Museum, aims at turning on the lights on the … More Bologna meets Naples thanks to the Roman painters of Pompei
First of all, I plead guilty of never going to Reggio Emilia, whose museums, as I found out, literally kick ass. Eloquent preface aside, let’s go back to why I am mentioning Reggio now. I recently went there to attend the press preview of photography festival Fotografia Europea, and what a dense tour de force it was. Almost … More Fotografia Europea is the one unmissable local festival this spring
The Mast Foundation is one of those jewels that, as a resident in Bologna, you tend to take for granted, and yet you shouldn’t. First, because it is indeed a jewel, a massive multifunctional complex covering an area of 25,000 sm, designed by Studio Labics’s Maria Claudia Clemente and Francesco Isidori, graced by the presence of artworks by … More The Mast Foundation hosts a powerful “visual alphabet” of work on its latest exhibition
There certainly haven’t been shortage of Boldini exhibitions over the past few years. We had one in Rome, one in Turin, one in Barletta. Ferrara, birthplace of the painter, hosted two: Boldini e la moda in 2019 and Boldini. Dal disegno al dipinto. Attorno alla Contessa de Leusse this year. And it was only three … More It is Boldini time at Palazzo Albergati. And what a time it was
As we all know, Bologna’s Cinematheque loves to honor memory and memories, and as you all know I love La Cineteca di Bologna. So when I got invited to the presentation of Bologna Fotografata, a brand new digital archive of very bolognese photos signed by Cineteca I run to it. Once again, it was a … More If you like vintage photos and Bologna, this archive from Cineteca is for you
Every time I go to Libri Liberi with a bag of books to donate, I feel a certain nervousness. This is no ordinary book-crossing venue. The elderly lady who attends to it will take her time to evaluate my volumes one by one, long enough for me to drop my “smug donor” smile, gravely enough … More The little (free) bookshop round the corner
Flaneur in Bologna 