Bologna La Dotta (Bologna the Learned) is one of the most academic cities in Italy, home to one of the oldest universities (founded in 1088). If you want to spend your free time learning about a particular topic, you can turn to the city’s dozens of libraries, research institutes and museums.
LIBRARIES
The Bologna city library, Biblioteca Sala Borsa, carries magazines, newspapers and books from all over the world. With its public spaces, unique architecture (underground Roman ruins are visible beneath the transparent floor), cafès, book shop and a wonderful children’s library, the Sala Borsa is a valuable resource and important must-see. The Biblioteca Italiana delle Donne has more than 30,000 volumes, including a large English-language section of books and periodicals related to women. The Robert H. Evans Library of the Johns Hopkins University SAIS Bologna Center has a good selection of foreign and Italian newspapers for browsing (note that the library is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions).
Biblioteca Sala Borsa
Piazza Nettuno, 3/b
Tel. 051.2194400
www.bibliotecasalaborsa.it
Biblioteca Italiana delle Donne
Sala da Tè Internet
Ex-Convento di Santa Cristina
Via del Piombo, 5
Tel. 051.4299411
www.bibliotecadelledonne.women.it
Johns Hopkins University
Via Belmeloro, 11
www.sais.jhu.edu/sais-europe
A complete list of university libraries may also be found on the website www.unibo.it.
The digital library system, which lists the exact location of all the system’s books, is available through the interdepartmental library center at www.cib.unibo.it.