Where can I see Bologna from above?

The Torre dell'Orologio on Piazza Maggiore has a terrace with panoramic views, and its ticket includes the clock mechanism and the Municipal Art Collections. The Asinelli tower at Le Due Torri is also listed as open for climbing, but check current access before you go.

Which Bologna sights are free?

Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica di San Petronio and the Fontana del Nettuno are free, and all three sit together in the center, so a first walk costs nothing. The Due Torri, the Torre dell'Orologio and MAMbo are listed as moderate. Museo Virgola has no price in its record.

Bologna Sights From TikTok: Towers, Piazza Maggiore and Neptune

Bologna's sights in these posts start in one square. Four of the seven places are on or beside Piazza Maggiore: the square itself, the Basilica di San Petronio, the Fontana del Nettuno and the Torre dell'Orologio. A short walk east are Le Due Torri, the two medieval leaning towers that one creator says you will see from all over the historic center. Five places come from one list of ten things to do in the city.

Two art museums sit further out, both from a post about Bologna as La Grassa. MAMbo shows modern Italian art in a former industrial bakery, and Museo Virgola is a studio and gallery for light design in an 18th-century palace on Via Santo Stefano. The square, the basilica and the fountain cost nothing. The towers, the clock tower and MAMbo are priced as moderate.

Written from public posts on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Updated Oct 2026.

Where creators go

Piazza MaggioreCultural Landmark
Piazza Maggiore is the pedestrian square at the center of Bologna, lined by the Palazzo Comunale and the Palazzo del Podestà, with the Basilica di San Petronio on one side and the Neptune fountain next door. A creator's advice is to start your visit here, since the basilica and the fountain are right there.
Le Due TorriArchitectural Landmark
Le Due Torri are the two medieval leaning towers on Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, the taller Asinelli and the leaning Garisenda. The listing says the Asinelli is open for climbing with panoramic views from the top. Check current access before you plan around it, since tower openings can change.
Torre dell'OrologioCultural Landmark
The Torre dell'Orologio is a 15th-century tower on Piazza Maggiore with a large mechanical clock. A ticket includes the terrace at the top, a close look at the clock mechanism, the Municipal Art Collections and an audio guide. The creator's note is simple: go up for the view.
Fontana del NettunoCultural Landmark
The Fontana del Nettuno is a 16th-century fountain with a bronze Neptune by Giambologna, on Piazza del Nettuno beside the main square. It is known for perspective tricks in the sculpture, and locals have a tradition of circling the fountain for good luck. It is free and right beside Piazza Maggiore.
Basilica di San PetronioChurch
The Basilica di San Petronio is the huge Gothic church on Piazza Maggiore, dedicated to the city's patron saint. Its facade was never finished, so the lower part is marble and the upper part raw brick, which makes it easy to recognize. Entry is free.
MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di BolognaArt Museum
MAMbo on Via Don Giovanni Minzoni is Bologna's museum of modern and contemporary art, inside a former industrial bakery in the Manifattura delle Arti district. The permanent collection covers post-war Italian art, and it is the temporary home of the Museo Morandi collection. There is a library, bookshop and café on site.
Museo VirgolaArt Museum
Museo Virgola, on Via Santo Stefano, is an artist's studio, gallery and school for designers in an 18th-century palace, founded by designer Mario Nanni. Its subject is the play of light and matter. It is a quiet, specialist stop for anyone interested in design rather than a general museum.

Around Piazza Maggiore

The square, the Basilica di San Petronio, the Torre dell'Orologio and the Neptune fountain all sit within a few steps of each other. Start at the fountain, cross into the square, see the basilica, then climb the clock tower for the view. The Due Torri are a short walk east if you want a second viewpoint.

Good to know

The posts center on Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica di San Petronio, the Fontana del Nettuno, the Torre dell'Orologio and Le Due Torri, all from one list of ten things to do in Bologna. For art, MAMbo and Museo Virgola come from a separate post about the city.