The best exhibitions to admire in Bologna
You're in Bologna for the food, I know. And I give you plenty of that, I promise.
But what about some art to digest tortellini?
Here's a list of the best exhibitions to visit in Bologna and Emilia Romagna, always up to date.
Exhibitions in Bologna
Pasta. Fresca, secca, colorata e ripiena
A small but super interesting exhibition about the most famous Italian food: pasta.
Inside the painted wall of Archiginnasio Library you can admire old books and postcards, vintage advertising and poems to celebrate this icon and simple dish.
And if after all of this, you feel a protest from your stomach, well you can join a Pasta Cooking Class in Bologna to take home knowledge and skills!
Info
When: From Oct 1st to Dec 7th 2024
Where: Biblioteca dell'Archiginnasio | Ambulacro dei Legisti | Quadriloggiato superiore
Piazza Galvani, 1 - 40124 Bologna
Opening times:
Monday to Friday 9 am - 7 pm, Saturday 9 am - 2 pm
Free entrance
Jago's Venere in Bologna
Wolds Presso Photo
The Underpass of Piazza Re Enzo returns to permanent life, with 2,000 square meters of exhibition space given back to the city through recent renovations.
World Presso Photo needs no presentation. You'll find a selection of the best photos of the year.
If you like photography, just visit it.
Info
When: From 10/10/2023 to 8/12/2024
Where: Sottopasso di Piazza Re Enzo Bologna
Tel. +39 051 2194150
Opening times:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 2-8 pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 10 am-8 pm Tuesday closed
Ticket: 13€
Antonio Ligabue
In September 2024, Palazzo Albergati in Bologna will host a major exhibition dedicated to Antonio Ligabue, showcasing 100 of his works.
The exhibition will explore Ligabue's tormented life and distinctive artistic style through landscapes, fairs, everyday scenes, and intense self-portraits.
Visitors will experience the emotional depth of his art, reflecting his deep connection to nature and his ability to communicate with immediacy and genuineness.
Despite being self-taught and marginalized, Ligabue's expressionist works continue to resonate powerfully with viewers.
Info
When: From Sept 19th 2024 to March 30th 2025
Where: Palazzo Albergati, Via Saragozza, 28, 40123 Bologna BO
Opening times:
Open every day from 10 am to 8 pm except Tuesday
palazzoalbergati.com
The MAST Collection. A Visual Alphabet of Industry, Work and Technology. Exhibition view at MAST Foundation, Bologna 2022
VERA LUTTER SPECTACULAR - An exploration of light
You need a bus or a car to get to MAST but get that bus or car.
The location of this private museum is stunning and all the exhibitions they make are nothing less than perfect. And free entry.
The exhibition SPECTACULAR. An Exploration of Light by Vera Lutter, showcases 20 large-scale photographs highlighting industry, work, and infrastructure.
Using room-sized camera obscuras, Lutter captures monumental subjects like the Zeppelin, Effelsberg radio telescope, and Pepsi Cola factory.
The exhibition includes unpublished materials, a creative process installation, and a public atelier illustrating the unique technique.
Info
When: From 11/10/2024 to 06/01/2024
Where: MAST, Via Speranza, 42, 40133 Bologna
Opening times:
Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 7 pm
Ticket: Free entry
Martin Parr - Short and Sweet
Martin Parr is one of the most famous contemporary documentary photographers.
The exhibition, "Martin Parr. Short & Sweet," will feature over 60 of his photos, including the "Common Sense" installation and an exclusive interview.
Known for his vibrant, satirical style, Parr's work captures quirky, everyday moments, especially in England, and explores themes like mass tourism and dance with a mix of humor and sharp insight.
Info
When: From Sept 12th 2024 to Jan 6th 2025
Where: Museo Civico Archeologico
Tel. +39 02 91446110
Opening times:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10 am - 7 pm
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10 am - 8 pm
Ticket: 14€
museibologna.it
Tina Modotti
Another photographer. A revolutionary one.
Known for her unique blend of art and activism, Tina Modotti used photography to explore human emotions, social justice, and the essence of reality, leaving an indelible mark on the history of photography.
The exhibit also delves into her relationships with key figures like Edward Weston and Diego Rivera, showing the profound impact of her work and life.
Info
When: From Sept 26th 2024 to Feb 16th 2025
Where: Palazzo Pallavicini, Via San Felice 24
Opening times:
Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 8 pm.
Ticket: 16€
Ai Weiwei Who am I?
Ai Weiwei comes to Bologna with his first solo exhibition at Palazzo Fava.
A unique chance to dive into the creative world of the Chinese artist, blending tradition and innovation, political activism, and provocative art.
A mix of works that will make you reflect on human rights, truth, and our relationship with technology. Don’t miss it!
Info
When: From Sept 21th 2024 to May 4th 2025
Where: Palazzo Pallavicini, Via San Felice 24
Opening times:
Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 7 pm.
Ticket: 14€
Exhibitions in Modena, Ravenna, Ferrara, Reggio Emilia, Parma, Rimini
Bruno Munari. Tutto
Never heard of Bruno Munari?
Consider a mix of Leonardo and Peter Pan, all together in a small man from Milan who became one of the best Italian artists and designers of the XX century.
This is just a condensed description of a genius mind, but if you want to know more you can visit Tutto.
The exhibition concentrates 70 years of ideas and works in all fields of creativity, from art to design, from graphics to pedagogy.
The location is stunning, a Villa in the Parma countryside.
The best way to add some art after culatello and Parmigiano of our Parma food tour ;)
Info
When: From 16/3/2024 to 30/6/2024
Where: Fondazione Magnani Rocca, Via Fondazione Magnani Rocca, 4, 43029 Mamiano PR
Opening times:
Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 7 pm
Ticket: 14€
Luigi Ghirri in Reggio Emilia
Gio Ponti. Ceramiche 1922-1967
When it comes to ceramics in Emilia Romagna, Faenza is the ultimate destination.
This charming town boasts master artisans of clay and is home to the impressive Museum of International Ceramics (MIC), dedicated to celebrating this timeless art form.
Gio Ponti, an architect by training, was more than just that - he was an inventor, entrepreneur, and promoter of the arts, shaping Italian taste from the 1930s to the 1950s.
His impact extended to ceramics, where his innovative designs at Richard-Ginori revolutionized the concept of modernity, inspiring future generations of artists like Mendini and Sottsass.
If you're keen on exploring local craftsmanship and arts, why not test your skills at a Mosaic Workshop in Ravenna?
Info
When: From 13/3/2024 to 13/10/2024
Where: MIC Museo Internazionale della Ceramica in Faenza, Viale Alfredo Baccarini, 19, 48018 Faenza RA
Opening times:
Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 7 pm
Ticket: 14€
Modern Mosaics at MAR in Ravenna
Esher
In case you need one more reason for a day trip from Bologna to the stunning Ferrara, here it is.
Escher, a Dutch artist born in 1898, is renowned for his ability to captivate audiences with his imaginative and seemingly impossible worlds.
His art, influenced by geometric theorems, mathematical concepts, philosophical ideas, and logical paradoxes, offers a unique and mind-bending experience.
Get lost in his paintings but don't enter the exhibitions already drunk if you want to find the exit.
Info
When: From 23/3/2024 to 21/07/2024
Where: Palazzo dei Diamanti -Corso Ercole I D'Este, 21 - 41121 - Ferrara
Opening times:
Open daily from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
Also open on Easter, Easter Monday, 25 April, 1 May and 2 June
Late Night Openings
31 March until 11 pm (last ticket issued at 10 pm)
18 May, 8 and 29 June open until midnight (last ticket issued at 11 pm)
Ticket: 15€
Exodus - Sebastiao Salgado
Back in 1993, Sebastião Salgado kicked off his epic journey into the world of migrations through his photography.
Over six years, this Brazilian reporter travelled across four continents, capturing moments of departure and arrival, as well as life in refugee camps where millions faced uncertain futures.
Since then, the world might've changed, but the mass movement of people is still a big deal.
In 2024 Salgado's powerful photos are hitting up Ravenna.
You can catch his exhibition at the MAR Museum of Art, a beautiful modern art museum with a permanent collection of mosaics.
Info
When: From 22/3/2024 to 2/06/2024
Where: MAR Museo d'arte della città di Ravenna Via di Roma, 13, 48121 Ravenna
Opening times:
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
Ticket: 11€
Luigi Ghirri - Zone di Passaggio
Put together the most unusual work of my favourite Italian photographer, Luigi Ghirri.
Inside one of the best museums in Emilia Romagna.
In a city that is an underrated gem of our land you have to visit, Reggio Emilia.
Then you'll get this exhibition that shows the behind-the-scenes of this strange park near Rimini that represents all of Italy together.
Info
When: From 26/4/2024 to 2/3/2025
Where: Palazzo dei Musei, Lazzaro Spallanzani, 1, 42121 Reggio Emilia
Tel. +39 0522 456477
Opening times:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10 am – 1 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10 am – 6 pm
Ticket: Free entry
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