Better yet, stop in their office on the north side of the Piazza Maggiore and meet them in person! There are all sorts of merchants there now and some amazing fresh produce! Many beggars which take the edge off a bit. It's the oldest and the most fascinating market of Bologna and a must for all our food tours in Bologna. Leonardo DaVinci probably won’t show up, but this is truly one of the most fun and best social experiences you can have in Bologna! In fact, there are numerous restaurants and cafes ready to meet the needs of the food-lover. The area is near Piazza Maggiore and heads … Today this area is expanded and just a two minute walk from the Piazza Maggiore on Via Clavature. The Ancient Bologna Market. Stop for a coffee and a pastry and chat with vendors. The Quadrilatero today has butchers, excellent delis, fish and produce stands, bakeries, jewelers, and high end apparel stores. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The historic architecture is worth a spot on your Bologna Italy bucket list for sure. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Once you have your food goodies in hand, head up the short narrow side street and look for the sign for Osteria del Sole just a block or two away from Salumeria Simoni on Vicolo Ranocchi. Or pick up some cured meats and cheeses at the well-known Salumeria Simoni in the heart of the Quadrilatero. But if you’re looking for a more authentic view of everyday life in Italy (with stunning and well-preserved medieval architecture and an endless selection of typical Italian food to boot) then you should really head to Bologna. Here you can eat the food and wine delicacies of Bologna. The Quadrilatero is a must-see attraction for those visiting the city for the first time but also people who have been in Bologna for years love to go back. The Osteria del Sole is one of the oldest pubs in the world having been in operation continually since 1465. You won’t be rushed or get dirty looks. On a corner of Via Pescherie Vecchie in the Quadrilatero is one of the best gourmet delis in Bologna, Ceccarelli Amedeo Srl. Quite a delight to wander the old streets and browse. We suggest you buy some bread — a little of this and a little of that — or a sandwich to take-out. The buildings remain largely intact and well preserved. This is also the place where locals and visitors alike socialize at the enotecas (wine bars) and small eateries with Aperitivo starting around 6pm in the evening. All rights reserved. The beautiful and well preserved city of Bologna is fortunate to have escaped centuries of devastating earthquakes that have occurred not so far away. Located here were the major craft and merchant guilds of painters, goldsmiths, barbers, fish mongers, furriers, butchers, and meat processors. Wonderful to spend an hour browsing from store to store, all these pastas and charcuterie are so tempting! Aperitivo time is a great way to taste Bologna’s and Emilia Romagna’s iconic foods like mortadella, prosciutto, parmigiano reggiano, and of course tortellini in brodo. Here’s where you can buy all the most famous Bolognese and regional specialties to bring home: tortellini, tagliatelle and other hand-made pasta, mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano, the signature Bolognese sauce ragù, and local wines like Pignoletto, Lambrusco … These guilds lined a small enclave known as the Mercato di Mezzo (The Middle Market) which became the city’s first covered market. This Bologna market is several streets wide and actually contains several indoor markets within its boundaries like the Mercato di Mezzo, an indoor market, pizzeria, beer pub, pasta bar, and restaurant. The lovely old centre, with a number of narrows streets, populated largely with food shops but also some nice old kitchen and ironmongery shops. It's … Drapperie, pescherie, orefici: all the streets in this medieval area called Quadrilatero preserve their name from the old corporations that were here in the past. And delicious casual places to eat - have lunch here! About 20 minutes or so walk from the station. They will make you a sandwich on freshly baked bread with whatever ingredients you want. Definitely tour the marvelous and historic sites of the city. It’s that special place in the city you’ve been searching for. If you’re looking for what to do in Bologna, no trip would be complete without time spent in the Quadrilatero. Quadrilatero is the medieval market where you can browse through the outside stalls and old shops selling all sorts of delicacies. You read that right… 1465! On every trip to Bologna, it’s the first place we head to relax and find something tempting to eat. Erfahren Sie mehr über die Architektur und die mittelalterliche Geschichte Bolognas in Ihrem Reiseführer. Many of them are fluent and others will speak at least some English. We love this social tradition and the Bolognese love to chat and socialize. Plenty of fresh food, interest stores and narrow alleys. Not a market as I expected (with stalls) but a series of narrow streets with small shops selling all sorts of food … the more I wandered the more I liked it.