Porto & Saragozza
The Porto-Saragozza district extends in the south-west of Bologna and was born from the merger in 2016 of the two previously separate districts. Porto took its name from Via del Porto, an ancient access point and port of call in Bologna for river traffic as well as an important commercial hub. It was born from the amalgamation of the former Marconi and Saffi districts while Saragozza united the Andrea Costa and Malpighi areas.
Saragozza also takes its name from the main street of the same name on which there are different theories. One favours the derivation of the name due to its proximity to the Collegio di Spagna founded in medieval times. The second argues that the name Saragozza is a mispronunciation of Cesaraugusta, in reference to the thermal baths built by Augustus.
It is a residential and quiet area in which to rent a flat, the first in the city by number of inhabitants. It includes part of the historical centre of Bologna and develops in the areas of the immediate southern suburbs characterised by hills and streams.
It is possible to get to and from the district using public transport; there are many bus lines. In addition, there are direct connections with Bologna's Central Station where trains arrive and depart that connect the city with the rest of the country.
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What to see and do
The Porto-Saragozza district offers a nice mix of historical and cultural attractions and several green areas. Saragozza in particular is characterised by stately homes, especially in the hilly areas that offer breath-taking views, and historic Art Nouveau buildings.
The Porto area, however, has undergone a redevelopment process in recent years that has made it one of Bologna's cultural and art hotspots.
Many historical artefacts have been found in the district from the Etruscan necropolises discovered along Via Andrea Costa and near the Certosa. Roman baths attributed to Augustus have been found in via Saragozza. Palazzo Albergati, one of the district's monumental buildings, also stands in the area. It is Renaissance architecture in which exhibitions of modern art and painting and popular culture are now held.
The Saragozza area is especially known for the Baroque-style Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. It stands on the Colle della Guardia and can be reached via a long porticoed street that passes through the Arco del Meloncello, a structure that forms a pedestrian portico on the street, and then leads directly up to the sanctuary.
Just outside the walls, at the foot of the hill, is the Certosa monumental cemetery, another of the places to visit in the district because it is a veritable open-air museum. Several important figures from local and national history, politicians, artists, Nobel Prize winners, composers and so on, have been housed here.
A cultural centre, an area known as the 'Manifattura delle Arti', has sprung up in the district and is one of the city's liveliest cultural centres. This area is home to important cultural and university institutions, including: the DAMS - Dipartimento di Musica e Spettacolo (Department of Music and Performing Arts), the Department of Communication Sciences, the Bologna Film Commission, Primo Levi University, the Cineteca and the MAMbo - Museum of Modern Art.
Moving on to the parks and green areas, there are several locations for walking and relaxing: Parco del Cavaticcio, centrally located between MAMbo and the Cineteca; Villa delle Rose, extending on the slopes of Colle della Guardia; Villa Spada with a beautiful surrounding park.
Where to eat and drink
The Porto and Saragozza areas are also home to many cafés, restaurants and bars of various kinds serving traditional regional cuisine, as well as including international offerings.
Let's start with restaurants and trattorias on Via Saragozza that you should definitely try: Trattoria Amedeo, this is a historic Bolognese trattoria where you will find antipasti and homemade pasta and a selection of regional wines. Trattoria Casa Mia, this is also a restaurant with traditional cuisine, Italian dishes mainly based on meat and fish. Other historic and cosy establishments are: Ristorante Biagi, also serving traditional dishes such as lasagne and tortellini; Trattoria Meloncello, open since 1918; Osteria 3 Leoni, located in Via Turati, as well as Osteria 137.
Changing cuisine: La Fastuchera, a Sicilian restaurant and wine bar offering Mediterranean recipes using seasonal ingredients; Nasty Burger Club, for excellent American-style burgers. For international cuisine: Sabor Latino, a takeaway restaurant; Kinkhao Thai Food & Drinks, for Thai cuisine; Umeka, for Japanese sushi.
There is also a wide choice of pizzerias in the Saragozza area: Dai Ragazzi Ristorante Pizzeria, Il Pirata del Porto, a rustic setting with exposed arches, Ristorante Pizzeria Costa 210, Al Tavolaccio, Neapolitan pizza in a family atmosphere, Berberè Porta Saragozza, 'O Fiore Mio Pizze di Strada in Piazza Malpighi.
As Bologna is a university city and therefore much attended by young people and students, there is no shortage of places and pubs to have an aperitif: Altotasso, Mia Cantina, Enoteca dei Pigri, are three wine bars with a wide selection of wines; Elektrobau Bar and Macondo - Cocktail Bar, specialise in cocktails; Cuvee Bistrot and Boavista, are two lounge bars offering finely mixed cocktails. For beer lovers, BierHouse Pub 32 Food&Drink, one of the area's benchmark pubs.
When the desire for dessert grabs you, or if you're looking for great places to have breakfast: Neri Bologna Bar Pasticceria, Bar il Caffeone, Pasticceria Sant'isaia Caffetteria, Café de la Paix, where you can also find organic and fair-trade food, Bar Antico Caffè Viola.
Where to go shopping
On via Saragozza, you will find small convenience stores, supermarkets and various types of shops. For example, Saragozza Vintage Shop, a shop selling collectables and vintage rarities. Several clothes shops, Tweed Saragozza and Outlet Trend to name a few, and Kyo Concept Store, a shoe shop. There are also several perfumeries, such as Profumeria Zanotti and La piccola profumeria; POPstore Bologna, a well-stocked comics shop; Fioreria Quadri Bologna, if you are looking for a florist here you will find individual plants and beautiful arrangements.
In the area there are also furniture and homeware shops, pharmacies, bookshops and all the general services you may need. In Via Andrea Costa there is a well-stocked shopping centre, right near the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
In addition, scattered around the neighbourhood are supermarkets of some of the most famous chains: Carrefour, Coop, Despar, Conad, Crai and several grocery shops for fresh products and local gastronomy.
In the Porto area there is Mercatopoli, a second-hand market where you can find a bit of everything: collectables, vinyls, knick-knacks and so on. It is a very well organised shop that looks almost like a boutique, in fact it is very popular among the residents of the neighbourhood and the city.
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