Parco del Valentino is a big public park right in the city centre, next to the river Po. Colourful flower beds, a small stream with wooden bridges and monumental fountains create a peaceful oasis amid the city. During spring and summer, you can chill all day long and well into the evening. The stately Castello del Valentino is the focal point of the park. Within the park, you'll find Borgo Medievale — an open-air museum and reconstructed medieval village and castle. Also, do check the latest exhibition in Promotrice delle Belle Arti and see what's in bloom at the Museo dell'Orto Botanico.

Pinacoteca Agnelli is an art gallery that displays art from a vast private collection. You'll find Renoir's Blonde Bather and Manet's La Négresse, as well as works by Matisse, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Canova, Picasso and Modigliani. The futuristic "crystal spaceship" pavilion is an attraction in itself. The Pinacoteca is perched on top of the Lingotto complex — the headquarters of the Italian auto giant Fiat, founded by Giovanni Agnelli. It was built as a car factory in the 1920s, and was the largest and most modern plant of its kind in Europe. A winding brutalist ramp took cars to the top of the building, where they could drive the 500 m long test track. The ramp and the test track are still in top-notch condition, but the building itself now serves a different function. While its exterior remained largely unaltered, the interior was revived to house an exhibition centre, a conference centre and auditorium, two hotels, offices and shops. The iconic ‘Bubble’ — a transparent meeting room on the roof — was also added.

Inaugurated in 1763, The Teatro Comunale di Bologna is the heart of Bologna's cultural life and is considered to be one of the most important opera venues in Italy. Opera, ballet, symphonic concerts or contemporary music, regardless of what you choose, will be a cultural high point to remember.