Bologna · PORTICOES, TOWERS & SAN LUCA
7 reviewed
Thirty-eight kilometres of portico, the longest climbing 666 arches to San Luca, and the leaning Asinelli tower over it all. Below are the best tours of Bologna’s porticoes and towers, best first: which climb, which walk the San Luca arcade, durations, and what each costs.
Guided tour of Ferrara’s Estense Castle with frescoed halls, Oranges Garden views, and underground prisons. Skip-the-line entry.
“The meeting point was disorganized and confusing and the castle overcrowded.”
Climb the Torrazzo’s 122.22 m tower with time-themed museum rooms, then visit the Baptistery’s Romanesque stone display in Parma area Cremona.
“This was an amazing experience, climbing up the bell tower gave incredible views of the beautiful city of Cremona. The baptistery was equally amazing.”
Audio-guided Archiginnasio visit in Bologna with the Anatomical Theatre and a local food tasting voucher, all in 1.5 hours.
“Non è molto utile. Nel pacchetto ci sono i biglietti salta fila, ma nel nostro caso (sabato pomeriggio) non c’era fila. Ottimo invece il voucher degustazione (piccolo tagliere di buoni affettati e bicchiere di vino + gelato Fabbri).”
Ride the San Luca Express with reserved seats, visit the Santuario di San Luca, then use tasting vouchers in central Bologna for a flexible food break.
“Misleading experience. The tickets can easily be purchased at the booth yourself for €13. The guide simply walks you to the train—nothing more. The train takes you to the church, where you explore on your own and return whenever you like. The so-called "food tasting" is disappointing and feels like a scam. You don’t eat at the local restaurant as implied. Instead, you’re given a voucher for the cheapest sandwich in town (worth about $3) that requires walking 900 meters, and a small ice cream (worth $2) from a separate shop 700 meters away—in the opposite direction. Would not recommend.”
Explore Bologna’s Clock Tower with a QR audio guide, see Palazzo d’Accursio art, then end with a city-center food tasting.
“Trovo molto ben organizzato l’accompagnamento verso la torre del Orologio. Poi la visita è fatta tramite un audioguida in modo autonomo. La vista dalla cima della torre su tutta Bologna è fantastica. Ottimo anche la degustazione con il tagliere e il gelato veramente buonissimo. Consigliata”
Tower and Power is a 30-minute medieval Bologna VR tour at La Macchina del Tempo. Fly over towers, all in English.
“The VR tour of medeival Bologna was great; very well done. Enjoyable (even for a 58-year-old like me, and I'm sure kids would appreciate it even more) and informative. Choose the longer version (25 minutes).”
See Bologna’s UNESCO porticoes and Basilica di San Luca on a guided 2.5-hour loop with a scenic dome view and San Luca Express ride.
“Victoria was fantastic explaining details of bologna and its history. Very good. Very easy connection for beginning tour”
