Paul Walter

Postcard from Bologna – ‘the most liberal city in Italy’

By | Tue 24th September 2024 - 1:00 pm

Like most Italian cities, Bologna has its fair share of churches, including the exceptional “Seven Churches” Basilica of Santo Stefano (above). All the churches, as is the Italian way, are chock-full of fine art.

But the reason for my postcard is to highlight the fact that Bologna is regarded as “the most liberal city in Italy”. It hosts the oldest university in the world, it has been at the Italian forefront of human rights campaigning across the decades and it even has its buildings painted red, it is said, to reflect its socialist leanings. It reputedly has the best public transport and health systems in Italy.

Indeed, Le Monde recently ran a feature in “Le Mag” entitled “Bologna, Italian life the anti-Meloni way“, which starts:

The Emilia-Romagna region’s capital has always been at the forefront of political and social struggles. In an aging country ruled by a far-right government, this student city has become a model of resistance.

Bologna deserves our support. As an added attraction, it has what is possibly the best gelato shop in the world – next to the famous two towers.

* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.

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One Comment

  • Dominic 24th Sep '24 - 1:42pm

    err, how does “socialist leanings” make it a “liberal” city? Other points re human rights, higher education etc make sense but this line is pretty incongruous.

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