Summer time is the perfect opportunity to go on adventures with our kiddos. Vacations can be a distraction in the best way possible, especially when life becomes overwhelming and we need a much-needed break. In saying that, my wife and two kids went on our yearly tradition of summer vacationing – and this summer involved our second international adventure.
We took our kids on their first international journey, including their first plane ride, to Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022. Lisboa is a magnificent place and it will always remain close to my heart as I do hope to return one day. This summer’s trip involved more planes, trains, and not-so-much automobiles. Where did we go? Where does one go when they want pasta? Where does one go when they want pizza? And would you think of this place when you want delicious sandwiches?
We Went to Bologna!
One of the great takeaways from our trip to Lisbon: We loved walking everywhere. So, we wanted to find a place where we could also walk everywhere. We thought of many different places, but we settled on a wonderful city where we could also take multiple day trips. Bologna, Italy is a special place for those looking to travel by foot and explore.
The porticoes of Bologna are listed as a UNESCO “world heritage site,” which means it has been placed on a list to keep in good standing for future generations.
“World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. Places as diverse and unique as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, or the Acropolis in Greece are examples of the 1007 natural and cultural places inscribed on the World Heritage List to date.”
These porticoes have amazing symmetry in design, providing relief from sunlight, rain, and the heat. During our days, there were many hot days where the porticoes gave us a much-needed respite in their shaded walkways. Yes, the heat would inevitably soak us to the bone in sweat, but that’s because we walked many miles each day during the majority of our trip.
How Far Can the Porticoes Take You in Bologna?
Not only do these porticoes take you throughout the city, there’s also a long-covered walkway beyond the city’s centre. Don’t get me wrong, this is a long walk – and our day walking up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca also coincided with the Tour de France. I don’t know if this walk on a Sunday early in the morning would normally be crowded, but this stretch was brimming with those seeking to witness cyclists throughout the day.
Our 6.3 km walk to San Luca started from our Airbnb through the city until we reached the starting point leading up to San Luca. It took approximately 2 hours each way, with an extended break at the top when we needed to rest, refill our waters, and most importantly, take in the sights surrounding the church.
Also, if you happened to be in Bologna on that Sunday and a 10-year-old boy was refilling your water bottles for you, that was our son. Marshall loves to help, and despite the exhausting journey, he made sure to help others by holding the button of the fountain for others to refill. I love that guy.
Again, this was a monumental journey and it was not easy. We had to take many stops and we even asked our daughter Adelaide if she needed to turn back at one point. Oh, this journey up to the church was all uphill through covered walkways and stairs.
Adelaide made the choice to push on and we made it to the top. It’s a tricky thing understanding how far to push our kids when we’ve taught them to understand their bodies and know when to say they need a break or stop. So, this was one of the most difficult parts of the trips, because it was clear they were gassed, but we took many stops whenever they needed it.
What’s to See In & Around Bologna?
Bologna has many places to visit. There were many Basilicas to see with free entry where you could see incredible architecture, wonderful interior and exterior designs, and an overwhelming sense of feeling small in such monumental spaces. We also went into a smaller space within a church; a crypt where we paid a euro (or two) to light up the space to walk around. We walked around in the dark until someone paid the fee and the space lit up, so we spent more time down in the crypt and paid retroactively.
Bologna is also well-known for its leaning towers. That’s right; plural. You can find yourself wandering through Bologna and just happen upon two tall towers in the city centre, and they are quite askew. We did not decide to climb either of the towers, because “uh, no thanks,” but it was still an impressive site to see. If you’ve always wondered about Pisa, but find yourself in Bologna, you’ll find yourself happy to look up and see these massive leaning buildings.
Along with incredible walkways, architecture, street art, Bologna and neighboring cities provide a great opportunity to see sculptures, waterways, and parks where you can enjoy food, drink, and music. Our day trip to Florence provided (by chance) a park where we could sit in the shade by a river and enjoy some wine while relaxing after a long morning throughout the city. There was also a park near our wonderful Airbnb with various food and drink vendors, while also hosting a semi-regular market where various goods were available to purchase (e.g., clothes, tech supplies, etc.).
Our favorite day trip was to Venice. It started as a cloud-filled rainy day and it couldn’t have been more perfect for us. It was a little steamy in our rain jackets, but most of our day did not feel overly crowded. And Venice can best be described by Phil Coulson (played by Clark Gregg) from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “It’s a magical place.” We felt completely comfortable wandering throughout the city, getting lost, and discovering what was around the next corner. The canals and bridges connecting one part of the city to the next are seemingly endless and beautiful.
One place we did not get to visit that was on our list: Santuario del Corpus Domini and Monastero di Santa Caterina de Virgi (both listed next to each other on the map with the same special viewing listed). “Corpus Domini is one of the sanctuaries most dear to popular devotion, also known as the Church of the Saint because the body of Saint Catherine de’ Vigri, founder of the first convent of Poor Clares in Bologna, is preserved here” (translated from Italian)
One day-trip we did not embark on: Modena. We had planned to visit Modena before our trip started, but our extended stay (nearly three weeks) still couldn’t account for how exhausted we made our kids. We had half-days or off-days where we didn’t do much, so Adelaide and Marshall could recover from our day-trips, or longer days in Bologna, but they reached their max with regards to walking and we didn’t believe another excursion was the right decision for them. So, this meant missing out on the home of balsamic vinegar.
Food, Food, More Food, & Yes, More Food
Meats and cheeses will never be the same back home. Yes, Meghan and I enjoy a charcuterie platter for a date night-in, but our palates were expanded beyond any preconceived notions going into this trip. Not only did we all devour a delectable platter at La Prosciutteria in Bologna (highly, highly recommend), it was one of two favorites of mine; the other being sandwiches.
That’s right; Italy’s sandwich game is beyond anything I could’ve imagined. Yes, we knew about All’Antico Vinaio sandwich shops in Florence, and, yes, we went there – and it absolutely (100%) lived up to the hype. My, oh, my, I want another right now. But we also found several delicious sandwiches in Bologna and Venice. If you ask me what I want to eat if and when we travel to Italy again, the answer is going to be meat and cheese, with bread possibly wrapped around it. DELIZIOSO!!!!!!
Yes, pasta is a great option while in Italy, especially Bologna (home of lasagna and tortellini), but most of trip was full of hotter days where eating hot dishes were not as appealing (for Meghan and I). The kiddos definitely ate more pasta and their favorites definitely included Tortellini in Crema di Parmigiano at Marsalino. This stop was a repeat for us, which also allowed us to order their spicy sausage pizza (crostini) again. As this was one of our kids’ favorite places to eat, it gets a high recommendation for sure!
Do I need to even talk about gelato? Yes. Yes, I do. Much like eating a pastel de nata in Lisbon as often as possible, gelato became the “as often as possible” in Bologna. I think it’s a safe bet that if you get gelato in Bologna, you’ll be happy with what you get. Also, our kids LOVE French fries, so we made multiple stops to Amor di Patatina where they served cones of fries with various sauces on top.
Special shout out: To the owner or manager of Tacos & Burger – your food was the “chef’s kiss” for our kids. They LOVED and crushed your burgers and fries. We also appreciate the kindness you showed us as we waited for our orders. If you’re looking for a change of pace from the standard Italian fare, then this place is a solid option for you and/or your kids.
Geeky Recommendation for Comic Books: Alessandro Distribuzioni!
The pure joy I had walking into this comic book store was incredible. Listed as Alessandro Libreria – Manicomix Retail S.R.L. on Google Maps, this comic shop and its awesome staff provided executive level customer service. They provided thoughtful care as we asked for certain comics, while they showcased specific works and made several recommendations.
Alessandro Distribuzioni was such a fantastic experience, we had to return more than once – and I would gladly go back every day of the week on any future stay in Bologna. They had incredible trade paperbacks and hardcover editions of almost everything. It was a delightful experience, but they had so much more than comic books. They had posters, t-shirts, and a large collection of board games, which we brought two small-boxed card games home with us as well.
As for the one comic book I purchased for myself, there were tons of options I grappled with; however, once I saw the Italian version of one of my all-time favorite comic books from the writer I am absolutely enthralled with, I could not help but make this my one purchase: Something Is Killing the Children Volume 1. That’s right, James Tynion IV for the win!
Although I feel like I barely covered all of the experiences we had on this trip, please let me know, what do you love to do when you travel? Is food a driving force like it is for me, Meghan, and our kiddos? What special places have you come across? Please share your own special journeys with us over on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to share this with all of your friends to help spread the geeky goodness that comes with family travel.
Until next time, happy parenting and happy geeking.
If you’re looking for more geeky content, please check out one of the following articles to dive into some geeky goodness: “Great Dads in Geekdom,” 2024 film anniversaries, or Fallout over on “The Neverending Streamer” (shameless plug – subscribe for free).
