Burp...A Bologna!

So we had a 2 1/2 hour tour this morning that actually lasted almost four hours.  I'm not complaining, but my feet were.  I have to admit I had no idea that Bologna was such a popular tourist spot.  I get it's a Saturday, but, man, there are a ton of tourists here.  We took a tour of the Basilica San Petronio (the one we can see outside our window).  Even in it's unfinished state (the city and religious leaders could not decide exactly how to finish the church after the original architect died, so they said, "Eh - it's finished!") it's beautiful.  Lovely light streams through its windows illuminating over 20 side chapels and an ornate choir/organ area.  I would have happily included pictures here, but you had to pay to take photos.  Really???

We also toured what basically amounts to city hall - a giant space with almost as many relics, paintings, and architectural features as the church.  This pic looks down from the town hall onto Piazza Maggiore (the church is on the right).

Here's part of the ceiling in the town hall - you know I have a thing about ceilings.  The whole ceiling was carved and decorated like this - fabulous!

There are two high towers in Bologna: The taller tower on the right is called the Asinelli while the smaller but more leaning tower is called the Garisenda. Back in the day - about the 13th century - the rich built towers to show off their wealth (I hate to say it, but, think Trump).

The bottom of the pic is level...it's the tower that's leaning.  Not as much as the tower in Pisa, but enough to make you think twice about ascending its steps.

So, Bologna has many religious artifacts (and stories) even though it's never been a seat of the church.  One particular representation - The Lamentations (where the Madonna, the three Marys, St. John, and the guy who pulled the nails from Christ's feet and hands stand over the body of Christ) can be found in three instances in Bologna.  This one is my favorite:

What's most amazing is that this is not carved in marble or stone...it is formed in terra cotta.  I know, right?  Look at the detail.  Look at how fine/thin Mary Magdelane's robes are, and the motion (and emotion) she portrays.  What a fantastic piece.  And it's about life-sized.

We went to the University of Bologna - widely considered the FIRST university.  I considered this guy standing in front of us...

After our tour ended, we found some lunch at a restaurant near our hotel.  We definitely had a picnic...

And later a fine dinner.  It's very much about the food here in Bologna.  And I can't wait to go shopping and eat some more tomorrow!  Ciao.