Prosecco Number 3!!

I know! More colonnades!! But how can I resist them when they're this beautiful, and provide such welcome shade on a hot steamy day?!

Our first port of call was the Basilica of San Domenico, one of Bologna's major churches, and where the remains of Saint Dominic (founder of the Dominicans), are buried inside an exquisite shrine with some carvings by the young Michelangelo (extra photo 1). The cloisters (extra photo 2 - reflected in the glass covering an ancient fresco) provided a lovely cool, green oasis, though they also hosted some rather ferocious mozzies!

After visiting the Basilica of Santo Stefano (extra photo 5), with part of the complex dating back to the fifth century, we were feeling rather cultured-out, so instead of our planned museum visit, we spent the entrance money on a leisurely lunch! With such a gorgeous setting (extra photo 5 again!), can you blame us?! (No Prosecco was consumed at this point, we liked the café and this beautiful piazza so much that we returned in the evening for aperitif time!!)

A rather sleep afternoon followed, firstly visiting the art gallery housed in the Palazzo D'Accursio (extra photo 3), then the 16th century Neptune's Fountain (extra photo 4). Apparently the design of Neptune's statue met with opposition from the church, and the women of Bologna were so disturbed by the sight that the Church had to put bronze pants on the statue!!

To round off the last day of our visit to Bologna we retraced our steps to our lunch time café for an evening of Prosecco and nibbles (extra photo 5) before deciding upon a beautiful restaurant with tables laid out under the trees and stars... A wonderful evening, but sadly our last...