If you’re planning a visit to Bologna, don’t forget to go up the hills for a ride!
How many times have we heard this recommendation, or suggested ourselves to friends coming to Bologna for a visit? The hills of Bologna are a great place for an experience in the open air. But where to go exactly to fully enjoy the view?

First of all, let’s get things clear about the location. They sometimes seem to be an abstract entity, difficult to identify on the map; actually, the hills are set south of Bologna, and they surround the city as if they were hugging it.

Once on top of the hills, you can do lots of activities. The most active people ride by bike or go for a walk, but there are some who prefer lying in the sun in the parks, reading a book and enjoying the view. And you can also visit San Luca, the most important sanctuary in Bologna as well as Chiusa di Casalecchio (Sluice of Casalecchio).

Let’s take a look at the many ways to take advantage of colli bolognesi.

The terrace of San Michele in Bosco

The terrace of San Michele in Bosco is one of the most fascinating, historically important and easy-to-reach panoramic highlight of the city. You’ll reach it through a 20-minute walk from Porta San Mamolo, going up a slightly steep road.

The panoramic viewpoint is a must-see for both tourists and Bologna’s citizens, especially with partners, as they can sit on the low wall and romantically enjoy the city view. They can’t be blamed: if you go there on a clear day at sunset, the atmosphere is really magic.

View from San Michele in Bosco

But there’s a lot more. Behind you, you’ll find the architectural complex of San Michele in Bosco including the church of the same name, a former convent (now Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli hospital) and the beautiful Biblioteca Umberto I library with its frescoed rooms.

Check the opening times to visit it and experience the telescope effect: walking along the corridor of the convent heading towards the panoramic terrace, you’ll reckon that the near you get to the window, the little the Asinelli Tower seems to be.

San Luca, and you suddenly feel at home

It’s not just a basilica, but also the place in the heart of locals. You can distinguish its profile from far away and seeing it while returning from a trip makes you instantly feel at home.

The Sanctuary of San Luca dates back to the second half of XVIII century and was built with the purpose of hosting the image of the Madonna, still carried in procession by the worshippers from Colle della Guardia hill to San Pietro Cathedral in the month of May. A portico was built to protect the procession too: featuring nearly 4 km of arcades, it holds the record of the longest portico in the world.

Arcades at San Luca

If you don’t worry about walking long ways, then the best way to visit this place is going up the portico on foot, starting from Porta Saragozza and heading for San Luca hill. Under the arcades you’ll meet lots of bolognesi who, just like you, take advantage of this “natural” way to go walking or jogging.

Along the road to San Luca there are many villas, but lots of them can be admired from the outside only because they are private; yet, Villa Spada park is accessible to the public.
Once on top of the Colle della Guardia, the satisfaction of seeing the sanctuary in front of you will reward your effort. San Luca will welcome you, with its warm orange colour and its lateral wings which seem to stretch towards you.

San Luca Bologna

A last recommendation: always keep your phone in hand as the portico is really photogenic!

Villa Ghigi Park. Watchword: relax

Just like San Michele in Bosco, Villa Ghigi park can be easily reached with a short and slightly steep walk from Porta San Mamolo. This big green area is your destination if you’d like to spend some time in leisure, relax and take a nap under a tree.

Lots of locals go there to have a break from daily stress and breathe fresh air among orchards, woods and flower plants, some also with their dogs.

You can’t miss the panoramic viewpoint, which is not very far from the entrance of San Mamolo Park, from where you can take a look at San Michele in Bosco and challenge yourselves by identifying towers, churches and other highlights of the city.

View from Villa Ghigi

Talon Park and the historic Chiusa di Casalecchio

Getting some kilometres away from Bologna, we come across Parco Talon park (also named della Chiusa), which is the perfect place to get away from negative thoughts and spend some time in the nature.

Not only does it represent a haven of peace, but it also offers the possibility to see the Chiusa di Casalecchio (Sluice of Casalecchio) closely. The Chiusa is an hydraulic work created in Middle Ages to divert the water of Reno river and lead it to the centre of Bologna, where it still flows underground. It is the most ancient and still active sluice in Europe and Unesco has acknowledged it as “announcing patrimony of a peace culture for young people”.

Sluice of Casalecchio

What kind of activities can you do in the park?
You can surely have a picnic on the grass and also walk through the park, measuring 2 km from the entrance in via Porrettana to the opposite side. Moreover, the park is the starting point of the Bregoli path which allows you to reach the Sanctuary of San Luca in a 45-minute walk surrounded by the colli atmosphere.

Through Parco Cavaioni by E-Bike

Our Colli Bolognesi tour ends with Parco Cavaioni, located some kilometres south of the city. We are nearly 270 metres above sea level, the highest point we have met so far and a place where you can really breathe fresh air. You can find a panoramic viewpoint in this park as well,  from where you can observe the whole city of Bologna and the Reno Valley.

How to reach Cavaioni park? Our green advice is riding an e-bike and join our Colli Bolognesi Tour, which leads you here through many parks, such as Giardini Margherita and Villa Ghigi. The electric bike allows you to take a look at the landscape along the way, without making too much effort, which is not a bad idea.

Cavaioni park

If you can’t help but using the car, the good news is that every place named in this post can be easily reached in a 20-minute drive from the centre. Once at the Cavaioni you can find a car park and some snack points as well.

Take a look at the tours organized by our agency to find out more about the colli bolognesi: