Belvedere Del Gianicolo Tours in Bologna

My wife and I had a fantastic experience with Riccardo. He met us at the train station and for the next 3 hours we discovered the history and beauty of Bologna. It truly is a 'sleeper' city in Italy. As a former history professor at the local university, Riccardo possesses an incredible level of historical knowledge and passion for the city of Bologna. His tour is one of the best we have ever done.

Margherita is great! She’s very knowledgeable and was everything we could have hoped for in a guide. She tailored the morning to our interests but also took us to places we would never have thought of! It makes a big difference to be able to spend time with a local and talk about what it’s really like to live in a place. Thanks Margherita.

This is my favorite Riccardo moment—entering a nondescript residential building and showing us a 16th century circular staircase designed in the mannerist style—then walking us to the top of the steps to take in a breathtaking view of the city. We were the only people there. Riccardo’s story to tell is that Bologna is one of the most well-preserved cities in Europe, and that one didn’t need to go to a museum to see these wonders—they were everywhere, on the streets, in the buildings where people live and work. Medieval houses with original wood frames? Medieval towers? Look around you. Want to see a painting by Fillipino Lippi, not on a museum wall, but hanging in the exact location where it was painted for? Here you go. He knows his history, art history, and had boundless energy. Bologna really came alive with his tour—a living city with a rich history. Highly recmmend.

Riccardo was one of the most passionate and knowledgeable guides we've had. Having been a professor, his level of expertise was unmatched, and he was very diligent about taking good care of his customers. We had a lovely day learning about the beautiful art, architecture, and history of Bologna.