Handicraft
The essence of Bologna does not only lie in its red brick buildings and porticoes, but also in the old handicraft shops scattered around the old city centre, that offer a wide range of hand-made memorabilia. One of the most dominant crafts is the restoration of objets d'art – there are so many restoration workshops that one could talk about a new school of Bolognese art. The local production of copper, gold and silver artefacts dates back to the Middle Ages but makes the most of contemporary design. One of the medieval alleyways leading to the porticoes of the Archiginnasio in Piazza Maggiore is called Via degli Orefici (Goldsmiths Street) after the old goldsmiths' guild, and is still packed with jeweller's shops. Several skilful lutemakers are still at work in Bologna. They make violins, guitars, lutes and ocarinas, and restore and recondition other instruments such as pianos. They use the great classical luthiers of the past such as Otello Bignami as models, revising and reinterpreting their style to achieve the best results.A lutemaker
The essence of Bologna does not only lie in its red brick buildings and porticoes, but also in the old handicraft shops scattered around the old city centre, that offer a wide range of hand-made memorabilia.
One of the most dominant crafts is the restoration of objets d'art – there are so many restoration workshops that one could talk about a new school of Bolognese art.
The local production of copper, gold and silver artefacts dates back to the Middle Ages but makes the most of contemporary design.
One of the medieval alleyways leading to the porticoes of the Archiginnasio in Piazza Maggiore is called Via degli Orefici (Goldsmiths Street) after the old goldsmiths' guild, and is still packed with jeweller's shops. Several skilful lutemakers are still at work in Bologna.
They make violins, guitars, lutes and ocarinas, and restore and recondition other instruments such as pianos. They use the great classical luthiers of the past such as Otello Bignami as models, revising and reinterpreting their style to achieve the best results.A lutemaker
CURIOSITY
VIA PESCHERIE VECCHIE AND THE COVERED MARKET
One of the most picturesque corners of Bologna, appreciated both by tourists and the locals, is the lively Mercato Coperto (covered market), so full of colours, sounds and aromas that it seems a completely different world from the rest of the city. From Piazza Maggiore, take Via delle Pescherie until it crosses Via Clavature: the covered market is the small building at the corner, covered by a bell-shaped glass and iron roof. It was built in 1877 to house the market stalls that crowded Piazza Maggiore.
