Is an AirBnB the right Bologna accommodation for you? This is a tour of a beautiful AirBnB appartmento in the historic center of Bologna.
List of AirBnB’s in Bologna (link)
Cell Phones
Having a smart phone when you travel is incredibly useful. Personally I use maps and transit apps, translation apps, and frequently check websites for opening hours, special events, menus, etc.
For some travlelers, adding international coverage to your US cell phone plan may seem like the easiest and most attractive option. For example, Verizon currently offers the use of your existing domestic minutes and SMS credits, and gigabytes of web access for $10/day. Specific benefits depend on your existing plan, and are not always easy to understand. Other US cell phone companies offer similar international plans.
For me, a better deal is to bring an unlocked cell phone to Italy and to buy a local SIM card and plan. For example, on my last trip to Italy (2019), I purchased a SIM card from Vodaphone Italy, and signed up for their “pay-as-you-go” non-resident plan. The total cost was 20 euros and included 500 minutes of local cell phone use (helps with making reservations or contacting hotels/airBnB hosts), 300 minutes of calls to the US, and 20 GB of phone service.
Amazon sells several unlocked international cell phones including the Samsung Galaxy J2.
The International SIM Card Wiki has up to date information on prepaid cell phone plans around the world.
The Italian Language
A frequent question asked by people considering a visit to Bologna is “Can I get by in Bologna without knowing Italian?” The answer is yes, but learning a little of the Italian language will make your time in Bologna a lot richer.
At the very least, knowing how to say “please, thank you, I’m sorry, is there a toilet?, a glass of wine please” and a few other phrases can go a long way. Trying to speak a little Italian is generally appreciated and the Italian people are very forgiving when you make an error.
There are all sorts of ways to learn the language. A phrase book can be handy, but for me, an app on my cell phone is useful and efficient. You’ll need a cell phone plan with data (more on that in another posting). On my iPhone, I use iTranslate. It’s fast, and can even work when you don’t have an internet connection.
If you want to go a little further, there are several language schools in Bologna that offer classes for all levels of learners.
For the record: Please – per favore, thank you – grazie, I’m sorry – mi dispiace, toilet – toilette, a glass of wine please – un bicchiere di vino per favore.
Museo per la Memoria di Ustica
On June 27th, 1980, a DC9 passenger plane on a flight from Bologna to Palermo, crashed in the western Mediterranean ocean off the coast of Italy. All 81 people aboard the plane died in the crash.
The cause of the fatal crash has never been established for certain but theories include the plane being shot down by a military rocket fired during a training exercise.
After the crash, the remains of the aircraft were recovered and the parts were assembled in an effort to determine the cause of the crash. The parts remained in a warehouse in Rome until a new museum was created in an old tram garage in Bologna. The pieces of the wreck were transported by the fire brigade from Rome to Bologna and in 2007, the museum was opened to the public.
It’s a beautiful and moving exhibit, and includes an art installation of 81 whispering black mirrors. The museum is located on Via di Saliceto, about a 30 minute walk from Piazza Maggiore, or you can get there on the TPER 27 bus.
The museum is open Thursday and Friday from 9AM until 1PM, and on Saturday and Sunday, from 10AM to 6:30PM. Entry is free.
Address
Via di Saliceto, 3/22 – Bologna
Links
Museum website
Benvenuto a Bologna
COVID-19 Update – The effect of the Coronavirus has been especially bad in Emilia Romagna and Bologna. One source I’ve found for up-to-date CV19 infection data in Italy is https://www.citypopulation.de/en/italy/covid/emilia_romagna/037__bologna/
TravelBologna is a collection of hints, tips, podcasts and videos about the very beautiful city of Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.
Looking for a Bologna travel guide book? (link)
- Getting to Bologna
- Where to Stay
- How to get around
- Where to Eat
- What to See and Do
- Day Trips from Bologna