Parco della Montagnola, Bologna, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Parco della Montagnola is a historic public park in Bologna, Italy, on the edge of the old centre beside Piazza dell'Otto Agosto. It is often described as the city's oldest public park, with a history going back to the 17th century. Today it is a green rise above a busy market square, and a good first stop for anyone exploring Bologna on foot.

The story behind it

The park has been open to the public since the 1600s, and local tradition gives 1664 as its starting date. Over the centuries it has been the city's place to stroll, rest and meet, long before most European cities had public parks of their own.

At its foot lies the square known locally as La Piazzola, a marketplace that still comes alive on Fridays and Saturdays. A statue facing the square represents the freedom of Bologna, so the spot mixes civic pride with everyday trade. And since this is Bologna, food is never far away. The region is famous across Italy for tagliatelle, Parmesan and Lambrusco, and for mortadella, the pink sliced charcuterie that Bolognese families take very seriously.

What to look for

• The statue that represents Bologna's freedom, which looks out over the square and gives the whole spot its sense of civic pride.
• The rise of the park itself, which looms above the square and explains the name Montagnola, meaning little mountain.
• The stalls of La Piazzola on market days, where you can watch locals shop and haggle.
• The mix of old trees, paths and benches, where Bolognese people walk, read and rest, much as they have for centuries.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the park and the square, longer if you want to browse the market or sit on a bench.
• Come on a Friday or Saturday morning if you like markets, but check current market days before you plan around them.
• The park is an open public space, so you can wander in freely. Check current opening hours for the gates if you plan an early or late visit.
• It sits a short walk from the central streets and Piazza Maggiore, so it combines easily with a stroll through the old town.

See it on a quest

The Old Town Bologna: Murder Mystery quest passes Parco della Montagnola as one stop on a longer self-guided walk through the old town. You reach the park on foot, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a murder mystery, so the walk has a thread to follow from one street to the next. There is no guide and no group to join, so you can start whenever you like. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.