Piazza Maggiore & Quadrilatero

Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero make up Bologna's compact, walkable center and the most convenient place to stay. It is busy, well lit and has plenty of places to eat alone. Pickpocketing in crowds is the main concern.

Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero are the center of Bologna and the simplest base for a first visit. The big square, framed by the Basilica of San Petronio and the Palazzo d'Accursio, is a meeting point at all hours. Just east of it, the medieval lanes of the Quadrilatero are lined with delis, fresh-pasta shops, wine bars and market stalls. The streets are pedestrian, porticoed and busy from morning to late evening, so walking alone is comfortable. Eating alone is normal here, with osteria counters, sandwich shops and aperitivo bars used to single diners, and staff generally speak English. The main problems are pickpockets in the crowds, especially at market hours and around the square, and overpriced tourist menus on the main squares. The lanes quiet down once the market closes, but the bars and restaurants keep them lit and occupied.