I’ve been to Italy 16 times. There’s one city I always recommend to first-time visitors.

• Not only does it have incredible food, but it’s also full of stunning architecture.
• Plus, Bologna is just a short train ride away from Milan, Venice, and Florence.

The city’s got history, too.

Instead, the city has a much more sophisticated energy. I saw students mingling with professors, artists, young professionals, and longtime residents, creating this incredible mix of old-world Italy and youthful enthusiasm.

I also loved visiting the Piazza Verdi, a square filled with students catching up with friends after class.

I still can’t get over how stunning the architecture in Bologna is.

One of the unique things about Bologna’s design is its porticoes. I love these eye-catching archways that line the streets, many of which date back to the 12th century.

In fact, Bologna has about 38 miles of porticoes, with the most famous being the Portico di San Luca, a pathway that extends for about 2 miles and has more than 600 arches.

Bologna is ridiculously easy to visit, even if you only have one night.

I always recommend Bologna to travelers because they don’t have to sacrifice seeing other parts of Italy to go there, since the city is one of the country’s main railway hubs.

By train, Florence is only 30 minutes away, Milan is about an hour away, and Venice is just about 90 minutes away.

Overall, I think Bologna is one of Italy’s greatest culinary and cultural destinations, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.