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PREHISTORY

As early as 5,000, stock-breeders and farmers were already living on the land around Bologna, and using tools made from wood, bone and stone. From the 18th century BC bronze began to take the place of stone.

THE FIRST IRON AGE. THE VILLANOV CIVILIZATION

Between the 9th and 6th century BC, early Etruscan populations gave birth to the Villanova civilization, which takes its name from a burial ground discovered in the neighbourhood of Villanova, a small town just outside Bologna. Their working of bronze was relatively sophisticated, and they cremated their deads.

FELSINEA

Etruscans coming from central Italy settled on the land from which a prosperous town called Felsinea was born. This was the first nucleus of the town which, following many changes, was to become the present-day city of Bologna.

THE "GALLI BOI"

The Celts, or "Galli" (Gauls) as the Romans called them, invaded the Po valley during the 4th century BC. The Galli Boi tribes occupied the land around Felsinea, but not having an urban culture, settled in villages near the fertile land. As a result, in a short time Felsinea began to decline...

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BONONIA

In 189 BC the Romans drove the Gauls out beyond the plains into the forests and into the marshes. The Roman colony of Bononia was established on an area of land of about 400 square metres, which was itself divided into squares of about 700 x 700 metres. One of these squares was reserved for the town, which was gradually given paved streets, drains, hot baths, public buildings and an aqueduct with lead pipes which carried water through tunnels 20 kilometres long.

CHRISTIAN BOLOGNA

At the start of the 4th century Diocletian's persecution of the Christians produced Bologna's first martyrs, St. Vitale and St. Agricola, whose sacrifice led to the establishment of the church in Bologna. A few years later, Emperor Constantine decreed freedom of worship, allowing Bologna to welcome its first bishop called Zana. Petronius, who had been the eighth bishop in the early 5th century, was proclaimed patron saint of Bologna in the 12th century.

GOTHS, BYZANTINES AND LONGOBARDS

In 553, after two decades of terrible war against the Ostrogoths, Byzantium came to dominate Italy, and Bologna became a possession of Ravenna's Byzantine exarchate.

THE SELENITE WALLS

Bologna managed to defend itself from new northern invaders (the Lombards) by rapidly building a circle of walls made of large unworked blocks of gypsum (selenite), which were mainly taken from old buildings. However, the selenite walls only enclosed two thirds of the inhabited area. The rest, which was deserted and gradually destroyed, came to be remembered as "Bononia antiqua rupta".

THE DARK AGES

In 727 the Lombard King Luitprand conquered Bologna, only to be defeated 47 years later by Charles the Great, who then gave the town back to the Pope. The Pope ensured that it was governed by Dukes until around the end of the ninth century when, after being included in the Kingdom of Italy, it was presided over by a Count. The Counts ruled Bologna until the beginning of the 12th century. Not much is known about Bologna's life and events during this period.

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THE FREE COMMUNE/ THE UNIVERSITY ("STUDIUM")

At the beginning of the 12th century Bologna was established as a free Commune. The nobility ferociously fought for power, while the common people were excluded from the running of the town. Soon after the year 1000, young people were already coming to Bologna from all over Europe to attend the lessons of the illustrious Roman law teachers Irnerius and Pepone. The University of Bologna (prototype of all future University schools) was born this way, with its teachers being paid directly by their students.

THE TOWERS

Conflicts among aristocratic clans often degenerated into armed fighting. As means of defence, and as signs of prestige, many towers were built within the town, and Bologna soon began to resemble a forest of towers.

THE CANALS

Navigable canals had existed in Bologna since Roman times, permitting heavy materials such as stone and marble to be transported from far away. From the 11th century, water from the Reno and Savena canals was also used to power water, saw and spinnings mills. During this period the town witnessed great economic developments and demographic expansion, and from a mere 20 hectacres came to occupy an area of as much as 100 hectacres.

THE AREA AROUND BOLOGNA/THE MAIN SQUARE (PIAZZA MAGGIORE)

Workers arriving from other regions were accepted into the new "Free Communes" such as Castel San Pietro, Castelfranco and Serravalle. A whole urban district was demolished in order to build the Town Hall, which was completed in 1203, with the main square (Piazza Maggiore) in front of it.

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THE SECOND LOMBARD ALLIANCE -KING ENZO-

The second Lombard League, of which Bologna was an influential member, was advers to Frederick II. After many years of war, Enzo, Frederick'son, was captured during the Battle of Fossalta on May 25th 1249, and brought to Bologna as a prisoner. He was held in prison in Palazzo Re Enzo for 23 years until his death. He was not allowed to go out but, as he was a King, he never lacked comforts and privileges.

TOWARDS THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNE

In 1247 the noble members of Geremea's Guelph Party formed an alliance with the communers who were leagued together in the Trades and Arms Societies. After 40 days of conflicts the Ghibelline opposers of the Lambertazzi were forced to leave the town. There were 12,000 exiles, a quarter of the whole population, and Bologna was governed by the new alliance. In 1300, the town, which, in the previous century, had come to occupy an area of land as large as 400 hectars, and which was one of the most important towns in Europe, entered a period of decline. In 1334 aversion towards unpopular governments caused the destruction of the fortress at Porta Galliera's by the common people. This fortress was even destroyed four times: in 1411, 1416, 1443 and in 1511.

SAN PETRONIO CHURCH

After ten years of Visconti's dominion and sixteen of the Pope's rule, Bologna re-established its independence. In 1930, building started on the church dedicated to the town's patron saint, St. Petronius, it was conceived as a monument to freedom.

THE BENTIVOGLIOS

In 1401 the Bentivoglio Family began to emerge and ruled with only small interruptions for the whole of the 15th century. It was a period characterized by the activity of many great artists, including the sculptors Jacopo della Quercia and Nicolò Dell'Arca, the architect Aristotile Fioravanti and the painter Francesco Francia.

FROM THE BENTIVOGLIOS TO THE PAPAL STATE

The decline of the last Bentivoglio, Gioavnni II, began with the breaking of the balance of power caused by the invasion of Italy by Charles VIII, King of France. After many obscure events and two sieges, on 13th June 1512, Pope Julius II entered Bologna. Although the town took advantage of an adminstrative, economic and legislative autonomy, it was governed by Legate, designated by the Pope and Senate. Both resided in the Palace of Comune, the Town Hall.

INCORONATION OF CHARLES V

From November 1529 to March 1530, Bologna hosted Pope Clement VII and Charles of Hapsburg, who was crowned Emperor in San Petronio on 4th February 1530. There were extraordinary celebrations on that occasion.

THE 'ARCHIGINNASIO'

During the 16th century the University or Studium of Bologna did not have its own seat in spite of its high prestige and the large number of people attending it. Following the League's strong desires the 'Archiginnasio' was inaugurated in 1563 as the single seat for the Studium's teachings.

PIAZZA MAGGIORE

In 1564 the Neptune fountain was placed in the square, then in 1565 the main square was completed by the construction of Palazzo dei Banchi. As a consequence, the hope of enlarging San Petronio vanished and its façade remained incomplete.

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CHURCHES AND PALACES RENEWED

The Counter Reformation encouraged a major renewal and enrichment of the churches of Bologna. Alongside the good architects and sculptors who also worked in the new great palaces of the senatorial nobility, a painting school developed which reached European fame thanks to Guido Reni and Carracci.

THE ARCADES

Ever since the Middle Ages the arcades ("portia") have been an essential element of Bologna's planning, and in the past were often used as roofs for carriages and animals. In 1400 works started in order to renew the arcades by substituting wooden columns for those made of stones. Later, arcades were built by means of public enterprise, the most remarkable among them being the one built between 1674 and 1733 three kilometres long, which, with its 666 arcades, winds its way up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca.

THE SCIENCE INSTITUTE

By the beginning of the 18th century the "Studium" had rather lost touch with the times. However, there was still strong cultural demand and so Bologna was granted the Science Institute, complete with a laboratory and observators. It started in 1714 thanks to Luigi Ferdinando Masili, who was not only a General of the Empire but also a truly modern man of science.

THE LOW LANDS - "LA BASSA"

In the 12th century the rivers round Bologna no longer flow together into the Po, which was artificially deviated. The low lands grew more and more marshy, a problem for which the technology those times could provide only modest remedies. Generalised reclaiming of this land only became possible during the 20th century.

THE COMMUNE'S THEATRE (TEATRO COMUNALE)

The Teatro Comunale, which had been designed completely anew by Antonio Galli called "Il Bibiena", was inaugurated on 1st May 1763 with Gluck's opera "The Triumph of Clelia".

THE NAPOLEONIC AGE

On 19th June 1796 French Republican troops entered Bologna bringing to an end the government of the League and Senate. Life in the town and its appearance changed. Many confiscated convents and churches passed to the state or to private owners, and the ancient Societies of Trades and Arts were suppressed. The Studium was transferred to Palazzo Poggi, that later became the national preture gallery.

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8TH AUGUST 1848

After the Restauration Bologna became a Papal town. It then, experienced a brief moment of freedom after 8th August 1848 when the Austrian soldiers, who had forcefully entered the city, were driven out. In 1849 the Austrians came back and stayed until 12th June 1859 when the Church's temporal power over Bologna came to an end.

BOLOGNA IS REMODELLED

The urban development scheme of 1880 followed strategies which were common beyond the Alps. Via Indipendenza and Via Farini were created, as were the roads now known as Via Marconi/Amendola and Via Irnerio/dei Mille. The ancient walls were demolished to make way for residential expansion.

FROM THE LEFT WING ADMINISTRATION TO THE RESISTANCE

After the unity of Italy, Bologna was ruled by a moderate government for more than 50 years. In 1914 the town elected its first left wing administration but in 1920 following a Fascist attack on the town hall, a police commissioner was installed. In the next 25 years, there were Mayors and "Podestà" in the service of the authoritarian regime. In 1945 Bologna was liberated from the Nazi and Fascist troops, and once again had a democratic government, thus resuming its progressive path. The new government was an expression of the forces of the Resistance, which, through much sacrifice, had given an important contribution to the victory of the Allies.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

The city and its province then, started a period of great economic and democratic development under the guidance of the left wing administration, and in collaboration with all the democratic forces. Thanks to an efficient local transport system, well run roads, Trade Fair, education services for children (considered as exemplary in Italy and abroad) and up to date public facilities, Bologna was in a leading position as regards welfare and lifestyle.

FROM THE DECENTRALIZATION TO THE METROPOLITAN CITY

To bring the local government closer to the citizens as far as the early sixties, the Commune created some "Quartieri" to decentralize the main municipal services such as scholastic, sporting and cultural facilities. Co-ordinating organizations have been created among all the Communes in the Province for public transport, water and gas. With the upcoming constitution of Bologna's "Metropolitan City" the 60 Communes of the Province and the city's 9 Quartieri gave a further boost to their decentralized powers and the coordination of their services.

ANY STROLL THROUGH THE STREETS OF BOLOGNA (OR IN THE PROVINCE) WILL REVEAL TRACES OF THE HISTORY BRIEFLY SET OUT ABOVE.