Piazza Maggiore

The first stop for most visitors to Bologna, Piazza Maggiore is the geographical and cultural center of the city. What most people notice first is the monumental, yet unfinished Basilica of San Petronio. The front steps of the church are always populated by University of Bologna students looking to catch a few rays and take some time off from their work at the world's oldest university. While Piazza Maggiore is relaxed during the day, at night it turns into a vibrant social scene, with free concerts, political rallies, and students partying hard until the break of dawn.