1. What is whispered... in Piazza Maggiore
In Piazza Maggiore, under the Podestà Palace (directly opposite the cathedral), there is a hidden acoustic magic. Enter through the middle archway and you'll find an open square space in the centre of the palace. Stand in one of the corners (each has a statue). If two people stand in opposite corners of the archway and whisper, their voices will carry through the archway as if they were standing side by side. This "whispering ceiling" is said to have been used for secret conversations by medieval bishops.
2. Three arrows in the arcade of the Corte Isolani
At 26 Strada Maggiore you will find the house of the Corte Isolani. Legend has it that three thieves planned to kill a local nobleman, but his beautiful maid fooled them and they shot arrows into the wooden roof of the arcades instead. To this day, the arrows are still visible between the building's beams. But finding them is not easy, and so the mystery of the three arrows often turns into a detective quest. On our last visit, we only managed to see two. In the evening, the arrows are illuminated.
3. The smallest window in the city
In one of Bologna's alleyways is a mysterious 'canal window."On Via Piella (by the house number 14) there is a tiny window overlooking the canal, which is reminiscent of Venice of old. This place reveals a piece of the history of Bologna, whose canals once formed an important part of the transport system. If you are lucky, you will see water in the canal.
4. Asinelli and Garisenda: towers with a secret
Bologna's towers are one of the symbols of the city. Less well known, however, is that the leaning Garisenda tower hides another secret - a broken vase.in order to see this secret, which is located on the roof of the smaller tower, you will have to climb the other, higher one. There is an entrance fee and 498 steps, but it's definitely worth it! Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the vase as the towers were under renovation and closed (November 2024).
5. A student's ring on the fresco of the University Library
The University of Bologna, one of the oldest in the world, also has its secrets. So look for the historic Archiginnasio University building (pictured below) in the city. In the main library you can find a fresco with the figure of an ancient scholar holding a book. But if you look closely, you'll notice that he's wearing a modern-looking ring on his hand. It is a symbol of student rebelliousness and wit.
Some say that the secret of the University is the inscription"Panum resis" carved into the wooden table top. But there is no photograph of such a secret, nor have we been able to discover it. If you do, let us know!
6. Immaculate Neptune
The statue of Neptune in Piazza del Nettuno is one of the iconic symbols of Bologna. Stand with your back to the palace with the sign Sala Borsa and look at the fountain with Neptune. When viewed from a certain angle, it looks as if Neptune has a huge right hand, resembling a man's privates. Legend has it that the sculptor Giambologna was so amused by this illusion that he incorporated it into the statue as a joke at the expense of the commissioners.
7. The mysterious cryptography in the Basilica of San Petronio or the inscription in the arcade?
The Basilica of San Petronio, one of the most important churches in the city, contains frescoes and paintings that have a cryptic meaning. In one of the depictions, the secrets of the universe and the cosmos are said to be encrypted. In the 15th century, the Church banned the dissemination of this knowledge, fearing that it would reveal "dangerous truths" about the universe.
Other sources say that the last secret of Bologna, the inscription Canabis protectio, was immortalized in the arcade of one of the houses. Head out of Piazza Maggiore towards Via Indipendenza, and stop in the arcade right by the first house on your right. On the ceiling you will see the Latin inscription"Panis vita, canabis protectio, vinum laetita", which could be loosely translated as"bread is life, canabis (cannabis) is protection, wine is joy".
