To get there, we started from the Piazza Maggiore, near our apartment, then walked over to the Saragozza neighborhood, through the Porta Saragozza, under the Meloncello arch, then entered the arcaded passageway that winds its way steeply uphill for about 2 km.
In all it was a challenging hike that took us about 1:45 one way for a distance of about 5km-- even beyond the city limits. We looked at each other a few times asking if we thought we could make it all the way. We did.
The interior of the sanctuary is decorated in the Baroque style and is quite impressive. I was disappointed by a couple of things--one, that after a 5km uphill hike there is no place at the sanctuary to buy a bottle of water. And two, the bathroom had no toilet seat, no toilet paper or paper towels. I would have happily given a donation in the offerte box if any of these things had been different, but the church got nothing from me this time.
Rather than make the whole round trip walk we took a shuttle bus part way back to town and stopped for lunch at a great restaurant called da Cesari. I had the homemade tortellini in brodo, which was spiced with lots of nutmeg, followed by the coniglio in agrodolce--stewed rabbit with onions, olives and capers in a sweet and sour sauce. Everything was delicious and it was the best meal we've had in Bologna.
Great adventures and great food! Last night I successfully over cooked pork chops on my gas range.
ReplyDeleteMy big adventure today will be getting the new washer and dryer ! Or maybe a slipcover for the ikea couch. Che bellezza!!! I would like to be having your adventures....or betty and lees in Japan or Charlene's in Asheville or anyone's who doesn't have boxes to unpack!!! But I do LOVE the new house.
Love reading your blog . I dreamed in Italian last night!