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Basilica of St Luke, Bologna, Italy

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Bologna Nightlife

The vibrant student community of Bologna fuels a lively nightlife scene that can be every bit as radical as the city's politics. There are plenty of nightclubs, discos and live music venues, with a smattering that remain open until 0400. Irish pubs are among the most popular watering holes in Bologna, serving everything from the ubiquitous Guinness to camomile tea. Good areas for nightlife are the student quarter, Old Town and the streets around the main square.

Talkabout (www.talkabout.it) and Bologna Web Night (www.bolognawebnight.it) offer English listings of nightlife, restaurants, sports and other events. There's also the monthly listings magazine 2night (www.2night.it), or buy Bologna Spettacolo from newsstands. 

Cultural listings are available from www.comune.bologna.it/cultura.

Bars in Bologna

Le Stanze

Le Stanze is stunning, located in the family's sometime chapel, with original 17th-century frescoes contrasting with the modern art and photography around the walls.

Via Borgo San Pietro 1

Osteria del Sole

For an authentic glimpse of an ancient Italian watering hole, serving up booze since the 15th century, plunge into the Osteria del Sole. If you buy a picnic lunch from the nearby market you can eat it here, as long as it's accompanied by a glass of wine purchased on the premises.

Vicolo Ranocchi 1D

Osteria dell'Orsa

A popular osteria in the university area is Osteria dell'Orsa, with long wooden tables and a long history of satisfying its bohemian clientele with hearty local cuisine and a fine array of accompaniments.

Via Mentana 1F

Clubs in Bologna

Kinki

Kinki is a long-time favourite, founded in the 1950s but by no means stuck in time. Expect hip visuals, cutting-edge house and multimedia happenings.

Via Zamboni 1
www.kinkidisco.com

Link

Link is open daily 2200-0500, featuring avant-garde art and live bands early on, then ambient or techno music late into the night.

Via Fioravanti 14
www.link.bo.it

Live Music in Bologna

Bar Wolf

Bar Wolf opened in 1960 and is a hotbed of eclectic live music, with everything from folk rock to experimental funk.

Via Massarenti 118
www.bar-wolf.it

Cantina Bentivoglio

Cantina Bentivoglio is something of a Bolognese institution. A cross between a wine bar and a restaurant, it hosts live jazz. There is no cover charge and it is nearly always packed, so it is advisable to book (open daily 2000-0200). In July and August, the music moves outside, when Bentivoglio and three adjacent restaurants create the Salotto de Jazz - live music in a closed-off portion of the street.

Via Mascarella 4B
www.cantinabentivoglio.it

Classical Music in Bologna

Teatro Comunale

Teatro Comunale is the primary venue for opera and classical music in Bologna. Since 1763, the theatre has welcomed some of the world's greatest composers, including Rossini, Verdi and Wagner. The opera season, reckoned to be second only to Milan's La Scala, begins at the end of November and continues through to the end of June; the theatre also presents a ballet season. The Teatro Comunale organises prestigious concerts, dance events and cinema screenings, both in the theatre and other venues from September to June.

Largo Respighi 1
Tel: 05161 74299.
www.tcbo.it

Theatre in Bologna

Arena del Sole

The Arena del Sole offers a more diverse programme, ranging from the conservative to the avant-garde.

Via Indipendenza 44
Tel: 05129 10910.
www.arenadelsole.it

Teatro Duse

Bologna has 14 theatres in total, offering a wide selection of drama, from Shakespeare to experimental theatre. All performances are conducted in Italian and often include dialect, so a good grasp of the language is vital. Tickets are available at the respective box offices. The Teatro Duse is the most traditional of the playhouses and, from November to May, attracts Bologna's middle class with its popular repertoire of classical drama.

Via Cartoleria 42
Tel: 0512 31836.
www.teatroduse.it

Culture in Bologna

Chet Baker Jazz Club

The Chet Baker Jazz Club is another popular Bolognese venue for quality live jazz. A New York-style joint, the atmosphere is everything you imagine a jazz club should be (though no longer smoky, since Italy introduced a smoking ban), and the club features top-level musicians, such as Tommy Flanagan and James Moody.

Via Polese 7A
www.chetbaker.it

Matis

In winter, students flock to Matis for techno, hip hop, local and international DJs, and the very latest music trends, a restaurant has been opened for those who want food and dance together.

Via Rotta 10
Casteldobole
www.matisclub.it

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