Discover the history of Bologna during a half-day sightseeing tour. Meet your guide for a city stroll led by a local art lover with deep knowledge of artistic masterpieces, history, food stories, and legends. Learn about local traditions and art during a tour that features popular sites including Piazza Maggiore, Palazzo d’Accursio, and Basilica di San Patronio.

Explore Bologna with a history-focused tour
Learn about art, architecture, and food heritage
See city landmarks including Piazza Maggiore
Stroll through the city with a local art lover

What's Included

All Fees and Taxes

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Bar Vittorio Emanuele
Piazza Maggiore, 1, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy
I will wait for travellers in front of Caffè Vittorio Emanuele, next to Piazza Maggiore.

Start time

09:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

79 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 79 reviews

This one is a gem!

Jean_R, Sep 2023

Riccardo was a wonderful, knowledgeable tour guide who is passionate about the art architecture and history of his wonderful city. It was a pleasure having him as a guide. I would highly recommend taking a tour with him. I give him Five Stars.

Great Walking Tour

Robert_F, Sep 2023

Ricardo was great, he was extremely knowledgeable on Bologna history as well as art history. Would definitely recommend this tour.

Fantastic!

SABRINA_T, Aug 2023

This is one of the best tours we have been on in Italy! Riccardo is a very knowledgeable guide that will provide detailed facts and explanations to all you see throughout the tour.

Intriguing Tour

Vanessa_D, Jun 2023

Riccardo is very knowledgeable and took us on a very interesting tour showing the best of Bologna with indepth explanations of what we were viewing. I highly recommend it. An authentic local tour which could be seen by the way he was greeted by friends around the city and places we visited.

Wonderful tour of the old city of Bologna

Mark_S, May 2023

Ricardo was incredibly knowledgeable about Bologna and it’s history. He spent a lot of time explaining the art and architecture of this lovely city. We couldn’t have wished for a better guide. Bravo Ricardo!

Great tour with Ricardo!

Catherine_H, Apr 2023

Very interesting review of art and historical sites in bologna! Very worthwhile--highly recommended!

Great tour!

Michael_R, Apr 2023

Excellent way to see Bologna and learn a bit about the sites you are seeing. Riccardo was a friendly and knowledgeable guide, very informative and willing to cater the tour around guests interests. Highly recommend.

Deep historical perspective on medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Bologna

Tim_R, Jan 2023

I had a very memorable and deeply historical one-on-one private tour around Bologna city center with Riccardo. In just 3.5 hours walking around with him I learned more not only about Bologna’s rich and unique history but about the historical forces that led to the Renaissance. Riccardo taught me things I would never have learned on other tours. Definitely a worthwhile and unique experience to see Bologna through the eyes of someone so deeply knowledgeable about the history and art history of this beautiful city.

Ricardo is an expert in...

PETER_T, Oct 2022

Ricardo is an expert in medieval baroque and renaissance art architecture and culture of bologna. Be guided by his passions and you won’t be disappointed

A superb tour with Ricardo who has such incredible knowledge about the history, culture and art of Bologna….the best!

Jane_M, Oct 2022

Everything Ricardo showed us was exceptional…it was the best tour of our trip….thank you Ricardo! If anyone wants to get a better and deep understanding of the history, art and culture of Bologna….this is the tour for you!

Bravissimo!

Hugh_D, Sep 2022

This was a remarkable tour. In three and a half hours, the guide, Riccardo Bacchi, created a fascinating portrait of the city and its intriguing history. Riccardo was brilliant at answering all of our questions. I'm writing a book on the Carracci family of painters and Riccardo not only gave me some fresh insights on the Carraccis, but also helped to get me into a few key Carracci sites that I wouldn't have be able to find on my own. Bravissimo, Riccardo. I would give this tour five more stars if I could.

One of the best tours we’ve taken. Don’t miss!

David_C, Jul 2022

Riccardo is an extremely passionate and knowledgeable guide. He was very generous with his time and very good at explaining complicated art and architecture and history at a level that was understandable and interesting to us!

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thanks a lot, i Remember It with pleasure too, Hope to see you soon back , for another Emilia 's lovely cities ! My best regards Riccardo

Tons of History- An Awesome Tour

TerriAnn_G, Jun 2022

Riccardo was fabulous, it's a ton of history and information and he spent many hours with us...it was incredible. I wish that we'd done the tour first thing while in Bologna, take this tip and don't wait until your last day as we did! If I'd had all these details earlier in the trip, it would've cast a whole other light on the city as we spent time in it. Highly recommended!

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thank you so much. Hope to see you soon Regards R.

Disappointed

Vikki_D, May 2022

Our private tour was scheduled for 9:30. The tour guide rescheduled to 3:00 but said it was a group then rescheduled for 3:30 then 5:00 so we canceled. Was really hoping to see the historical monuments. We went to a few on our own but I like to hear the history.

Response from Host, May 2022

Dear guests, You know perfectly that the First rescheduling had been agreed together the day before (I asked you whether It would have been more convenient to you maintaing the original time). The second was due to external events Absolutely not predictable: I found a long line on the highway (4 hours long) due to a terrible car crush. I sent you pictures of the line... Second, were you really were interested in the tour, you could have waited for me at 5 pm, understanding that It was not my fault. (The long line i found )... What a strange behaviour that of harming someone when any possible external and predictable event happens. Sure you know what I mean I forgot to tell you that you have been 100% refunded of the tour, Riccardo

Not to be missed!

Angela_W, May 2022

We had a wonderful tour with Riccardo. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Bolonga and it's history. His pride for his city shines through with each stop and story. We highly recommend this tour.

Learn and Enjoy the Best of Bologna!

Anthony_A, Apr 2022

Ricardo made the history and art of Bologna come to life! Detailed, knowledgeable and charming, he created a canvas for us to enjoy and an experience not to be forgotten. Spend some time with Ricardo, you will not be disappointed!!

Nice and informative tour

Daniel_F, Apr 2022

Had a very nice and informative tour with a verrrrryyyyy knowledgeable guide. A lot of history and nice anectodes of Bologna. Took about 3,5 hours.

Incredible afternoon with...

Danielle_G, Mar 2022

Incredible afternoon with a knowledgeable and passionate guide! It was a great way to learn about the city.

Riccardo is one of the...

Jennifer_E, Dec 2021

Riccardo is one of the most knowledgeable guides we've ever met. My husband is a history professor and a love of art. Riccardo was quick to show us other interests when some of the churches were closed due to mass during the holidays. We really enjoyed the information he presented. Thanks for a great tour.

Excellent tour of historic Bologna

Ianrose, Nov 2021

Riccardo provided an excellent tour of the historic centre of Bologna. He was informative and witty and able to answer all our questions. We were so enjoying the tour that he was happy to run well over the allotted end time. Very highly recommended.