Top 20 best museums in Bologna

The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a basilica church located in Bologna, northern Italy. It is situated atop the forested hill of Colle (or Monte) della Guardia, approximately 300 metres above the city plain, just southwest of the historical centre. This location offers a panoramic view of the city, making it a popular spot for tourists.

Palazzo Fava, also known as Palazzo Fava-Ghisilieri, is a historic building located at Via Manzoni 2 in Bologna. It is home to the Exhibition Palace, which also includes the Literary Cafe Carracci Fava. This location offers a unique blend of history, art, and culture, making it a notable point of interest for tourists visiting the city.

The Museo per la Memoria di Ustica (Museum for the Memory of Ustica) is a museum in Bologna that is part of the Gallery of Modern Art in Bologna. The museum was established to commemorate the victims of the Ustica massacre. The museum houses the remains of the DC-9 reconstructed and exhibited in the

The Museum of the History of Bologna (Museo della Storia di Bologna) is a museum in Bologna that is housed in The Palazzo Pepoli Vecchio, a Medieval Gothic-style palace. In the museum visitors learn more about the history of Bologna. The interactive museum covers the period from the Etruscans to th

The Ducati Museum is a museum in Bologna that is dedicated to the Ducati motorcycle brand. The museum is located at the Ducati factory and holds a collection of Ducati motorcycles and some early non-automotive products. The collection illustrates the history of Ducati motorcycles and is told in a pe

The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna (Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna) is a history museum in Bologna that is housed in the 15th century Palazzo Galvani, once known as the Hospital of Death. The Archaeological Civic Museum of Bologna is one of the most important archeological museums with

The National Art Gallery of Bologna (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna) is an art museum in Bologna that is housed in the former Saint Ignatius Jesuit novitiate, inside the same building that houses the Academy of Fine Arts. The National Art Gallery of Bologna holds a collection of Emilian paintings f

The Clock Tower, also known as Torre Accursi, is a significant historical landmark in Bologna. Constructed in the mid-13th century, it is situated at the intersection of Via IV Novembre and Piazza Maggiore. This location makes it a central point of interest for visitors exploring the city's historical center.

The Palazzo Poggi is a palazzo in Bologna and is the headquarters of the University of Bologna. The museum of the Palazzo Poggi holds various collections, including a natural history collection, an anatomy and obstetrics collection, a physics and chemistry collection, a Geography room, military arch

MAMbo (The Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna) is a museum of modern and experimental art in Bologna. The MAMbo in Bologna holds a collection of works by contemporary artists, starting with those who have marked the history of SpazioGAM, up to a collection of modern-day art, including: Renato Guttuso,

The Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica is a music museum and music library in Bologna. The museum is housed in the Palazzo Aldini Sanguinetti of which the first floor contains nine rooms of the exhibition that illustrates around 6 centuries of the history of European music. The museum di

Museo Civico Medievale (The Medieval Civic Museum) is part of the Civic Museums of Ancient Art in Bologna that is housed in Palazzo Ghislardi, an example of 15th century Bolognese architecture. It holds a collection of sepulchral monuments mostly from the 14th century and preserves works of Lombard

Among the many towers that were built, the Asinelli and Garisenda towers are the two most famous ones that still stand today. The Asinelli tower, the taller of the two, stands at a height of 97.6 meters. Originally, it was not more than 60 meters tall but was later extended. The Garisenda tower, on the other hand, measures 48 meters. It was originally 60 meters tall but was shortened in the 14th century due to the ground on which it was built giving way.

The Oratory of the Madonna of San Colombano is a religious site in Bologna, which was built in 1591, atop the site of a chapel or small church that sheltered the painting of the Madonna dell’Orazione by Lippo di Dalmasio. The attached complex of buildings houses the collection of musical instruments

Museo del Patrimonio Industriale (The Museum of Industrial Heritage of the Municipality of Bologna) is a history museum in Bologna that is specifically dedicated to the industrial history of the city from the 14th century to the present. The museum is housed in the renovated buildings of a brick kil

Museo Geologico Giovanni Capellini (The Geological and Paleontological Museum is a museum in Bologna that is the largest paleontological museum in Italy. It is named after Giovanni Capellini, an Italian geologist and paleontologist. Currently the collection shows more than five hundred years of educ

Museo della Specola (The Specola Museum) is housed in the astronomical tower built at the beginning of the eighteenth century on Palazzo Poggi and represents the historical seat of the Department of Astronomy. The museum is part of the University Museum System (SMA) within the University of Bologna.