An itinerary among the towers of Bologna looking upwards even il sitting on a wheelchair.
AIAS Bologna is an association onlus born in 1962 gathering people with disabilities, their families, volunteers and operators. It deals directly or in an agreement with public entities, with services of support for people with disabilities and families in several fields: school, work, technological aids, daily life. It takes part into programmes promoted by the E.U. with initiatives recognised as a local example. AIAS goal is to promote the right of people with disabilities to have a good and happy life integrated in society. AIAS operates in the following sectors: association, with social help desk, orientation to services and protection of the rights. Stays, free time activities and expressive laboratories.
Services to people, with home care, individual or group educational actions; residential centres and day-time centres for teenagers and adults. Support, with services of counseling to people, families and to the operators; support and education in agreement with the public administration, the University, and schools.
Projects at local and european level to prevent from social exclusion; promotion of culture and of policies for disability; professional education for operators; distribution of technologies for people with disabilities.
ECC european certification body. Thinking of Bologna as a town more and more welcoming, AIAS suggests an itinerary of about 3 km along the streets of the town centre looking upwards among towers, buildings and churches.
The itinerary starts from piazza Roosevelt, where there are several car-parking reserved to people with disabilities, the first tower the torre dei Lapi, since 1356 of property of the municipality and incorporated into the walls of Palazzo D’Accursio in via IV Novembre, then in piazza Galileo the torre degli Agresti (Agresti Tower 13th century) with the elegant 17th century restoration, opposite the police station. Turning left into via Marescalchi, after via Dè Fusari, you get to piazza dei Celestini: on the right vicolo Spirito Santo to see the Casa torre dei Catalani (13th century). In the square on the corner with via D’Azeglio, on the first floor, there is the famous bolognese songwriter Lucio Dalla’s house – museum, next to the balcony there is a decoration reminding us of him. Cross via D’Azeglio to enter into Corte Galluzzi where you can find the torre dei Galluzzi (13th century) which takes back to the tragic memory of Virginia Galluzzi and Alberto Carbonesi, Romeo e Giulietta bolognesi, today a bookshop with entrance from via D’Azeglio 34/E (wc accessible). From Corte Galluzzi crossing piazza Galvani, turn left into via Dell’Archiginnasio, without going under the portico. At the crosswalk with via Dei Musei (it’s better to remain outside the portico), turn right into via Clavature where it is possible to see the santuario Santa Maria della Vita where is kept the group of statues of the Compianto sul Cristo morto by Niccolò dell’Arca, masterpiece of the 15th century, sculpture of unequalled dramatic power, then on the right going towards via Marchesana (small uphill) at n.4 torre dei Carrari of the 14th century origin, today a private house. At the bottom take on the left via Dè Foscherari, then on the right into via Dè Toschi you get to piazza Minghetti to see the torre dei Toschi cut off over the Case dei Caccianemici.
Go ahead the piazzetta del Francia, then on the left into via Castiglione, up to piazza Della Mercanzia, you get to via Santo Stefano at n. 4 torre degli Alberici situated next to the 13th century Case Serracchioli, still keeps the old shop dated back to 1273.
On the left along via del Luzzo, you get to strada Maggiore where in the distance over the porticoes towards Porta Mazzini (left side) it’s possible to see the torre degli Oseletti; cross the street and go ahead towards via Castel Tialto, taking via San Vitale (portico on the right side) up to piazza di Porta Ravegnana. Here are the Due Torri symbol of medieval Bologna: the torre Asinelli (97 m) and the torre Garisenda (48 m) mentioned in the Divina Commedia (there is a gravestone with some lines). Proceed along via Rizzoli up to n.34 going into the Galleria Acquaderni where there was the ancient chiesa di San Giobbe. You are in via Oberdan, on the right and then on the left you get to via San Niccolò (past the church) on the right in via degli Albari and then into via Albiroli there is the Casa torre of the Guidozagni (on the right) and the torre dei Prendiparte (on the left) known ad the Coronata, today a B&B. Going back up via Sant’Alò (memorial plaque for Guercino), on the right into via Altabella there is the torre degli Azzoguidi with the base made of selenite blocks.
From here on the right looking upwards the imposing torre Campanaria of Cattedrale di San Petronio, built around a previous cylindrical tower dating back to the byzantine period. The entrance of the basilica is in via Indipendenza. Cross the street and take via Manzoni (under the portico) at n. 4, in the atrium of the Museo Medievale, the Case torre Conoscenti, 13th century (wc accessible).
Going back to via Indipendenza (right side), crossing via Ugo Bassi and the piazza del Nettuno you pass under the vault of the Podestà (high officer of the city) (sound effect on the opposite sides) up to piazza Re Enzo where there is the torre dei Lambertini, situated on the corner of Palazzo Re Enzo, called delle donne because it was used as female jail in the past. From here it’s possible to see over the houses the torre degli Uguzzoni. Cross piazza Maggiore to admire the torre dell’Orologio and the front of Palazzo D’Accursio with the statue of pope Gregorio XIII.
From piazza Maggiore go back to piazza Nettuno: on the right side view of the torre dell’Arengo, over the vault, opposite, at the beginning of via Indipendenza, the torre Scappi, inside the palace of the same name and linked to the attempt of escape of Re Enzo.
Proceed and enter into the courtyards of the town hall palace (wc accessible) and the go on the right into via Ugo Bassi. On the corner with via Veneziani the last tower of the itinerary: the Torrone used like prison until 1830. The itinerary finishes in piazza Roosevelt where there is the car parking.
For further information:
www.aiasbo.it
www.comune.bologna.it – sportello sociale – servizi offerti – servizi per l’accessibilità
