Piazza Maggiore in Bologna

he heart of Bologna is Piazza Maggiore (Major square), centre of the religious and civil life of this city. It’s celebrated for the Fonatana di Nettuno (Neptune’s fountain) and for the ancient medieval buildings that give onto the square. The Palazzo comunale (City Hall), the Palazzo dei Bianchi, the imposing San Petronio Basilica and in front of the basilica the Palazzo del Podestà (Palace of the Podesta). All this buildings testify the story of this city from 1200, when Bologna’s city dwellers felt the necessity to have a market square. All the buildings that were here before were bought by the township and then pulled down, in the XV century the square was completed and took the austere appearance that we can see today. In spite of its historical importance this square has a light side too:** the students of the University of Bologna say that it’s bad luck to pass through the square from the centre, it must be crossed going along the borders.** They said that the students that don’t follow this device risk to never get the University degree.