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Abroad, Bologna, Italy

The happiness to be an Italian #Bologna

posted by Dario
Aug 1, 2017 1075 0 0
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The happiness to be an Italian #Bologna

Table of Contents

  •  The old red “youth”
  • Two Towers
  • Piazza Maggiore and fountain of Neptune

 The old red “youth”

 

Bologna is a city with an extraordinary rich history that you can feel while strolling around in the pleasant atmosphere of the small streets surrounded by typical red bricks. Also the spirit of the city is very colorful and lively. It is no coincidence that Bologna is one of Italy’s hottest spots as it has the largest young population in the country and also for the simple reason that it is one of the largest university cities in the country.

I had the pleasure of visiting Bologna several times (a one-way train ticket from Florence varies between 8-12 euros). The first thing that grabs the eye is the color of most buildings. Almost all the buildings are in stunning red, which creates the specific appearance of the city: elegant, academic and sophisticated.

Two Towers

For one day, I managed to visit the sights I was aiming for, presumably I started with the most impressive ones – the Two Towers Garizenda and Azinelli or just the Two Towers. These are towers that were built in the 11th century with a defensive purpose. Their height is 97 meters, one is lower than the other with 49 meters.

In order to climb to the top of the tower you need to pass through 498 steps. Also, ironically, not only the Pisa Tower is inclined, the tower in Bologna is as well but the deviation from the base are only the modest 2.23m.

Nowadays the towers become one of the most attractive sights, as well a symbol of Bologna. They provide an unforgettable panorama of the city that fully justifies the efforts to climb the tower.

Useful information:
For visitors is only open the Azileli Tower (the higher one).
Summer time:
From 9:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:40), no day off
Winter working time:
From 09:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:40), no day off
Long working hours are possible in March and April;
Ticket for adults and children: 3,00 Euro;
Free of charge for disabled guests (no lift);
If you are fond of panoramas, this is the best offer that the city provides;
I recommend you to visit it in order to see and enjoy the true magic of the red color in this city;

Piazza Maggiore and fountain of Neptune

After that, I moved to the city’s largest square, the Piazza Maggiore, which has the role of a social center as well as a venue for many different events. Around the pizza itself are other major attractions. My favourite is the fountain of Neptune. Magnificent and stylish, the fountain was built in 1567 by Tomazo Loretti. It is located in Neptuno Square. It is a 3.2 m bronze statue. It is decorated with different elements representing angels, dolphins, sirens and fishes. There are four other statues on God’s feet, which depict four rivers: the Ganges, the Amazon, the Nile and the Danube.

At the back of the fountain is the sixth largest cathedral in Europe (the fourth largest in Italy) the Basilica of San Petronio. The length of the building is 132 m and the width is 60 m, the capacity is up to 28 000 people. The construction began in 1390 and ended in 1663.

A curious fact is that here was crowned Emperor Carl V of the Holy Roman Empire in 1530. Also Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister – Elisa Bonaparte was burried here.

On the side of the basilica you will also see the Arcusio Palace which houses the Bologna City Hall. The palace includes a complex of buildings that have been united over the centuries. It was originally the headquarters of lawyer Acourius. In the 15th century, the castle underwent restoration, with a clock tower added to it. The facade of the palace building is very beautiful and you can also see the statue of Pope Gregory VIII, who introduced the Gregorian calendar.

Curious facts:
Bologna is home to the oldest university in Europe (globally controversial), opened in 1088;
In the XII and XIII centuries, 180 towers were built in the city of which about 20 have been preserved to date. The most famous of them are Garieda and Azinelli;
Bologna is home of the Ducati motorcycle brand;
Bologna is called the “city of the arches” because of the countless arches involved in the construction of the buildings, which have also become a part of the city’s appearance;
Bologna is also called small Venice, because it is built on canals but it’s not so clearly visible. Only in certain places you can see an open channel inbetween buildings. 

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Dario Dionisi



If you want to know something more about me – my soul is a traveler, my origin is Italian and my true essence is a faithful friend. I am always open to new ideas and will be very happy if you want to contact me at dario@beyondsofia.com

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Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Costa Rica! 🇨🇷

To many, Costa Rica’s charm lies in its lush rainforests, unspoiled beaches and abundance of wildlife. With breathtaking landscapes and a myriad of creatures – from toucans to monkeys to jaguars – it’s easy to see why. 

Where else can you hike active volcanoes, zip line through cloud-covered rainforests and surf warm turquoise waters within the span of just a few days? In this compact but diverse tropical paradise, exhilarating outdoor activities are abundant. 

Nature-seekers will roam thick jungles while beachgoers will sprawl across the powdery sands. It’s hard not to admire all the splendors this “Rich Coast” has to offer.

#CostaRica #PuraVida #LatinAmerica
Heading to the next stage of life ~ Since soon I Heading to the next stage of life ~

Since soon I will celebrate my 30th birthday, I’ve been reflecting back to the person I was when I entered my twenties, and while I still feel young at heart, I’ve evolved into a completely different person.

I must confess, I have mixed feelings about turning 30. While I cherish the memories and experiences I have gathered during this time, I have also however, had my share of setbacks. The most important aspect that has inspired me are the experiences that I have gathered during my travels. Meeting new people, understanding their culture and trying new cuisines have changed my perspective towards life in general. While I am still a child somewhere in my heart, turning 30 is a big deal because it is assumed that I am an adult now.

Here are my 30 most precious travel experiences before turning 30:

1. Exploring my home country.
2. Travelling solo.
3. Supporting small local businesses and entrepreneurs.
4. Learning a foreign language.
5. Saving money for traveling.
6. Making friends while traveling.
7. Cooking traditional dishes.
8. Trying traditional food everywhere I go.
9. Overcoming my fear.
10. Trying something new.
11. Travelling with family.
12. Travelling with friends.
13. Travelling for myself and not social media.
14. Going out my comfort zone -  uncomfortable makes life more comfortable.
15. Living in a foreign country.
16. Packing like a pro.
17. Visiting my (some of) dream destinations.
18. Falling in love in a foreign country.
19. Blending in with different cultures.
20. Taking a piece of every place with me.
21. Learning to say no (in different languages).
22. Learning to take decent pictures.
23. Documenting my trips.
24. Valuing experiences.
25. Making memories.
26. Rediscovering my favourite places.
27. Planning elaborate itineraries
28. Keeping it positive and never regretting to have climbed that mountain.
29. Some people around the world are born disadvantaged, not biologically, but socially.
30. Realising that the most incredible thing I can witness happens twice a day, and it’s free.

#life #20 #30
Your positive friendly reminder… Travel is, at Your positive friendly reminder…

Travel is, at its very essence, a tool – nothing more… nothing less. Broken down to its very essence, it becomes an instrument to fulfil our desires, attain new experiences and to discover a difference that is at least a step away from our local surroundings.

One thing that we can often forget is that travel also has the added benefit of helping us build a pretty solid amount of confidence too, something that we all stand to benefit from in the long-term, in our own personal development.

Follow this 5 simple steps and enjoy the best ways to develop your confidence, which can be learned whilst travelling:

✅ Be positive
✅ Embrace strengths
✅ Acknowledge weakness
✅ Listen to your head and heart
✅ Be an assertive traveller

#travelling #positivethoughts #confidence
The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like Ha The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like

Have you ever wondered what it is really like to travel often? Living the life of a traveler is full of paradoxes. Full of strange feelings. Full of grandiosity. Let me tell you what traveling is really like.

Choosing this life is more than a temporary escape. It will completely and entirely transform who you are.

So are you prepared for a journey of beauty, adventure and heartbreak? Read the next few rows.

✔️ Traveling is saying yes to life.
✔️ Uncertainty is a traveler’s homeland.
✔️ Traveling is a life of extremes.
✔️ About the unknown driving force.
✔️ Discomfort as a teacher.
✔️ Traveling is falling in love deeply with the world.
✔️ Always a stranger, but at home in the world.
✔️ Experiencing exhilarating freedom.
✔️ Understanding different perspectives.
✔️ In the life of a traveler, nothing lasts.
✔️ Travel teaches you everything.

This is what the life of a traveler is like: Be courageous. Follow the calling of your heart. It will lead you to a million places you would have never expected. And you will grow big. You will grow beautiful. You will grow so full of life it will make your heart burst with happiness. Some of us simply belong to the road.

#lifeofatraveler #travelthoughts #travelinspiration
The magic of Spain 🇪🇸 Double trouble - Dou The magic of Spain 🇪🇸 

Double trouble - Double S

Dive in the magnificent atmosphere of Segovia and Salamanca - two unique, original and beautiful cities 🌆
Photo dump Spain 🇪🇸 ⚔️ Portugal 🇵🇹 Photo dump Spain 🇪🇸 ⚔️ Portugal 🇵🇹 

#Spain #Portugal #adventure
Dear Portugal, I would never have pointed to a ma Dear Portugal,

I would never have pointed to a map and picked you. I wasn’t sure we would even like each other. I came with only a few belongings and even fewer expectations. But I had the desire to get to know you and see if I would stay. And like two people making an acquaintance at a dinner party, we searched for commonalities: exploring, an insatiable appetite for rice and seafood, a bond to the earth and the sea.

At first I fell for the little things. The promise of discovering new things every single day. That dazed feeling after a few glasses of fruity vinho verde. The melancholy while listening to Fado music. The rissois, natas and feijoada, the melt-in-your-mouth queijo fresco, delectable sardinha and unforgettable bacalhau. And surprisingly, even lamprey and percebe.

I loved the quiet irony of your lavish, impressive buildings next to your ancient, dilapidated houses. I even adored your temperamental weather, sunny in the morning and sometimes tempestuous in the afternoon.

And I loved your people. The grandmas dressed in black with their soft faces and culinary secrets. The fishermen with their old fashioned hats. The shopkeepers who actually mean it when they say “obrigada.”

And then I began to love you for your words, and the new feelings they gave name to.  For that elusive feeling of saudade –– untranslatable but described so accurately by the Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo: “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.” Or the chamego — the sense of intimacy, infatuation, and cuddling, all in one word.

Of course, there are things about you that I will probably never understand. You’re an old soul and I’m too juvenile. I’m impulsive whereas you are cautious and pensive. I have this incessant desire to be happy, but you have this habit of enjoying being triste.

But I’ve lived many lives in different parts of the world, I’ve been running around, not caring where I rest my head, not knowing where I’d end up. Perhaps I met you, Portugal, because something inside me had really been crying out for stillness, for a safe haven where I could finally become myself.

#Portugal #loveletter #Lisbon #porto
At the very lowest point on earth lies a natural w At the very lowest point on earth lies a natural wonder replete with a unique ecosystem, breathtaking desert views, and mineral treasures that have been attracting visitors for thousands of years: The Dead Sea. 

Located in the desert between Jordan and Israel, it is also the world’s deepest hypersaline lake. Although the high salinity of the water makes it almost impossible to dive.

#Jordan #sea #lake
Jordan’s Photo Dump 🇯🇴 #Jordan #album #A Jordan’s Photo Dump 🇯🇴 

#Jordan #album #Asia
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