New York, Paris and Tokyo could also be in your journey bucket listing, however there are many cities that do not get sufficient credit score and are effectively value a go to. Underrated cities have their advantages — they will typically be much less crowded, extra inexpensive, and simply as attention-grabbing.

As a journey journalist for over 20 years, I not too long ago requested 175 journey lovers, specialists and brokers about what they assume is probably the most underrated metropolis to go to. The most well-liked reply was stunning: Bologna, Italy.

“Bologna could be very up-and-coming and poised to be the brand new sizzling Italian metropolis to go to,” says Tom Marchant, founding father of luxurious touring firm Black Tomato. “And because the dwelling of Bolognese pasta, it is a foodie mecca.”

Bologna’s many nicknames — La Rossa (the “Crimson,” for its red-tiled roofs), La Dotta (the “Discovered,” for the traditional College of Bologna), and most famously, La Grassa (the “Fats,” for its wealthy delicacies) — clarify the perfect components of the town.

Listed here are the highest three causes to place Bologna in your journey listing this 12 months:

1. The meals scene is unparalleled.

“[Bologna] fairly presumably has the perfect meals scene in all of Italy,” says Jeff Miller, a journey blogger at Our Ardour for Journey.

Meals lovers can discover the town’s open-air markets and hidden pastifici (pasta outlets) and go to the eating places that created favorites like pasta Bolognese and Tortellini.

You may also spend a day at FICO Eataly World (a.ok.a. the “Disney World of meals”), Bologna’s 20-acre theme park solely devoted to Italian delicacies.

Or, take a day journey to the Emilia-Romagna area, the place Italian gastronomy was born.

“Bologna has nice entry to Modena and Parma, each with well-known merchandise [like Modena prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano] named after them,” says David Hawkraven, proprietor of Designed Journey.

Hawkraven typically sends vacationers to native farms, the place they will style Modena prosciutto — which is never discovered within the U.S. — or be taught concerning the delicate course of behind genuine balsamic vinegar.

2. Its structure and historical past rival different Italian cities.

Bologna is acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site for its 38.5 miles of porticoes, or arched walkways.

It is also dwelling to 24 medieval stone towers, together with Bologna’s most iconic landmark, the Two Towers.

Journey author Ann-Marie Cahill says climbing the Asinelli Tower, one of many Two Towers that is open to the general public, is precisely the place historical past buffs ought to begin.

She additionally suggests visiting the unfinished San Petronio Basilica and touring the Roman ruins that run beneath Bologna’s library (you may as well take a look at them by the library’s glass flooring).

3. It is handy and accessible.

Bologna is “solely walkable,” in keeping with Marchant, which can prevent the price of a automobile rental. In order for you public transit choices, there’s a metropolis bus with tickets beginning at simply 1.30€.

Marchant says locals are pleasant, and the town is mostly protected, making it a cushty trip spot. And the common resort room prices beneath $200 per evening for eight months out of the 12 months, in keeping with journey search engine KAYAK.

Positioned in Northern Italy, it’s handy to journey from Bologna to different Italian sizzling spots. It is solely about 70 miles from Florence, 95 miles from Venice and 135 miles from Milan.

Nonetheless, the town is a vacation spot all by itself.

Do not miss:

Wish to be smarter and extra profitable together with your cash, work & life? Join our new publication right here