Bologna "La Dotta"

Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna is one of the largest and best preserved medieval historical centers in Europe.

The entire center has maintained its characteristic architecture over the centuries with its buildings red brick various important buildings dating back to 1200. Typical of Bologna are the arcades, which all buildings had to have by law: over the centuries a network of 62 km was developed, the largest in the world, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bologna is called "la Dotta" (the Learned), due to its ancient University, the “Alma Mater Studiorum”, founded in 1088 by an organized corporation of students. It was the first place of study to use the term “universitas” for the guilds of students and masters and can be considered the oldest university in the world based on this structure, which is also the basis of the current universities.

Worthy of mention: Bettisia Gozzadini, the first woman to earn a university degree and teach at a university (1239) , and Laura Bassi (1711-1778), called Minerva, the first woman with a doctorate in science, paid as university professor and member of an Academy of Sciences.

Bologna is also called “la Grassa” (the Fat) for its excellent and rich gastronomy. Mortadella and other cured meats, Bolognese sauce, tortellini, lasagne, tagliatelle, boiled meat, Certosino are dishes of the Emilian cuisine that have become famous all over the world.

Visitors from every continent attend the cooking classes of the famous "sfogline", the name given to the women who prepare handmade egg pasta ("sfoglia") which is the basis of some traditional dishes, such as tortellini and tagliatelle.