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7 days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Bologna and all Italy

By Herodot AI - city travel buddy
Free cancellation available
Price is NZ$20 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 1d
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Multiple languages
Overview

With your personal AI guide you aren't restricted to major landmarks and limited stories any more! Explore iconic sites like the Piazza Maggiore, Basilica di San Petronio, Biblioteca Comunale dell'Archiginnasio or any other popular or less known landmark, historical building or even piece of art. You can ask about literally anything which catches your eye: whole city district, hidden street corner, intriguing frescoes…

Key Features for Your Italian Holiday:

Snap a photo of any ancient ruin, fountain, or masterpiece and instantly receive a fascinating storey. It’s like having a historian in your pocket!

Navigate seamlessly with map-based audio tours, giving you full flexibility.

Choose a narrator persona—from an in-depth local guide to a fun, kid-friendly companion—to tailor the stories to your interests.

Offline Ready: Download guides in advance so you never miss a storey, even without Wi-Fi.

7 days premium subscription included. Available both for iPhones and Android smartphones

Activity location
  • Piazza Maggiore
    • Piazza Maggiore
    • 40121, Bologna, Italy
Meeting/Redemption Point
  • Piazza Maggiore
    • Piazza Maggiore
    • Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Check availability

Bologna and Italy for 1 week in Multilingual
  • Activity duration is 1 day1d
    1d
  • Opening hours: Thu 12:00 am-11:30 pm
  • English
Price details
NZ$19.62 x 1 AdultNZ$19.62
Total
Price is NZ$19.62
Month worldwide subscription in Multilingual
  • Activity duration is 1 day1d
    1d
  • Opening hours: Thu 12:00 am-11:30 pm
  • English

worldwide coverage
Duration: 30 days: Includes extended one month premium subscription

Price details
NZ$39.25 x 1 AdultNZ$39.25
Total
Price is NZ$39.25
Year worldwide subscription in Multilingual
  • Activity duration is 1 day1d
    1d
  • Opening hours: Thu 12:00 am-11:30 pm
  • English

any city worldwide
Duration: 360 days: One year premium subscription

Price details
NZ$98.16 x 1 AdultNZ$98.16
Total
Price is NZ$98.16

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    7 days premium app access for iPhone or Android

Know before you book

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Piazza Maggiore
  • 1h
Step into the heart of Bologna at Piazza Maggiore! Your AI travel guide turns this historic square into a living stage of medieval power, Renaissance beauty, and local life. What you can do: Instant Storytelling: Snap a photo of San Petronio’s vast façade, the Neptune Fountain, or the Palazzo d’Accursio. The AI reveals how the square evolved from a medieval market into Bologna’s civic centre. Self-Paced Discovery: Use the map-based guide to wander through the porticoes, arcades, and side streets—explore cafés, palaces, and hidden corners at your rhythm. Deep Dive into History: Ask about the unfinished basilica, papal politics, medieval guilds, or the legends surrounding Neptune. Every question unlocks a new layer of Bologna’s past.
Basilica di San Petronio (Pass by)
Unlock the wonders of Basilica di San Petronio with your AI guide. Explore one of Europe’s largest and most fascinating churches with clarity, insight, and complete freedom. What you can do: Focus on the Highlights: Snap a photo of the unfinished marble façade, the soaring brick interior, chapels, frescoes, or the famous Cassini Meridian Line. The app instantly explains their meaning, design, and role in Bologna’s history. Hidden Stories: Capture sculpted portals or astronomical markings to hear how architects, scientists, and artisans shaped this basilica—from its ambitious 14th-century plan to the legends surrounding its halted construction. Explore at Your Pace: Wander through shadowed aisles and bright chapels without a fixed route. Use the map or your camera to trigger stories about art, politics and miracles. Choose Your Narrator: A Professional Historian for architectural depth, or a Local Guide for lively anecdotes about Bologna and San Petronio’s centuries-long saga.
Neptune's Fountain
  • 1h
Uncover the power and elegance of Neptune’s Fountain with your AI guide. This Renaissance masterpiece blends art, symbolism, and civic pride—ready for you to explore freely in the heart of Bologna. What you can do: Marvel at the Masterpiece: Snap a photo of Neptune’s towering bronze figure, the tritons, or the cascading tiers. The app instantly reveals the meaning behind Giambologna’s dynamic design and how the fountain became a symbol of Papal authority. Beneath the Surface: Tap the map to discover how the fountain connected to Bologna’s hidden hydraulic system, why it was placed beside Piazza Maggiore, and the political message encoded in its composition. Explore the Details: Focus your camera on sculpted nymphs, sea creatures, or bronze ornaments. The AI provides quick insights into artistic techniques, Renaissance ideals, and the stories behind each figure.
Santuario di Madonna di San Luca (Pass by)
Explore the spiritual heights of Bologna at the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca with your AI guide. Perched on Monte della Guardia and linked to the city by its iconic portico, this sanctuary offers centuries of devotion, art, and legend. What you can do: Uncover Layers of History: Snap a photo of the basilica’s bright façade, the sweeping staircase, or the hilltop view. The app reveals stories of pilgrimages, miraculous icons, and the sanctuary’s role in protecting Bologna. Focus on Hidden Details: Point your camera at frescoed chapels, Baroque altars, or the revered Byzantine Madonna. The AI explains symbolism, artistic styles, and the traditions surrounding the annual procession. Customise Your Tour: Choose a Professional Historian for insight into architecture and devotion, or a Local Guide for lively tales about the long portico walk, local beliefs, and the sanctuary’s place in Bolognese life.
Biblioteca Comunale dell'Archiginnasio (Pass by)
Explore the intellectual heart of Bologna at the Biblioteca Comunale dell’Archiginnasio with your AI guide. Once the main seat of the world’s oldest university, this historic building immerses you in centuries of scholarship, art, and civic memory. What you can do: Discover Academic Heritage: Snap a photo of the courtyard, heraldic coats of arms, or the grand staircases. The app instantly explains how noble families and professors shaped the Archiginnasio and its role in Bologna’s academic life. Hidden Stories: Point your camera at frescoed ceilings, wooden inscriptions, or the Anatomical Theatre’s intricate carvings. The AI reveals tales of early scientific studies, student rivalries, and the evolution of medical teaching. Explore at Your Pace: Use the map to wander through reading rooms, arcades, and historic halls without a fixed route—pause to admire symbols, busts, and architectural details.
Piazza Santo Stefano
  • 1h
Explore the mystical charm of Piazza Santo Stefano with your AI guide. This quiet, triangular square—framed by ancient porticoes and the Seven Churches complex—invites you into a world of medieval devotion, stone-carved history, and serene beauty. What you can do: Discover Ancient Heritage: Snap a photo of the Basilica complex, cloisters, or brick façades. The app instantly explains the origins of the “Sette Chiese,” their symbolic layout, and their role in Bologna’s spiritual life. Hidden Stories: Point your camera at capitals, courtyards, or worn frescoes. The AI uncovers legends of saints, relics, pilgrim routes, and how centuries of reconstruction shaped this sacred ensemble. Explore at Your Pace: Use the map to drift between porticoes, chapels, and peaceful corners—pause for shadows, stone textures, or the quiet rhythm of the piazza.
Museo Civico Archeologico (Pass by)
Explore Bologna’s ancient past at the Museo Civico Archeologico with your AI guide. Home to Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic treasures, this museum reveals the deep roots of the city’s history and its connections across the Mediterranean. What you can do: Uncover Layers of Civilisation: Snap a photo of Etruscan urns, Roman mosaics, or Egyptian sarcophagi. The app instantly explains their origins, craftsmanship, and what they reveal about daily life, belief, and trade. Focus on Hidden Details: Point your camera at inscriptions, bronze figurines, or delicate jewellery. The AI uncovers stories of ancient rituals, burial customs, political power, and the artisans who shaped these objects. Customise Your Tour: Choose a Professional Historian for archaeological depth and cultural context, or a Local Guide for engaging anecdotes about discoveries, excavations, and Bologna’s ancient heritage.
Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell (Pass by)
For an unparalleled perspective, climb the 498 steps of the tallest leaning tower, Asinelli (confirming current opening status). From the summit, your guide will point out key landmarks visible from above, offering a 360-degree panorama of the terracotta-tiled cityscape and the surrounding hills. Compare the history of the two towers, learning the feuds and social status they once represented in the medieval skyline.
Archiginnasio di Bologna (Pass by)
Enter the original, historic seat of the University of Bologna. Use augmented reality to scan the walls and ceilings: your travel assistant will help you decipher the over 6,000 inscriptions and heraldic coats of arms that cover every surface. Discover the identity, origin, and faculty of studies for the students who attended the university over the centuries. Let your tool guide you through the courtyards and halls, revealing how the Palace became a genealogical map of European education—an experience that goes beyond simple observation.
Teatro Anatomico (Pass by)
Inside the Archiginnasio, discover this extraordinary amphitheatre built entirely from cedar wood. Use your digital tool to receive an immersive audio reconstruction of a 17th-century anatomy lesson, complete with details on dissection techniques and the role of the "Lector" (the lecturer). Focus on the statues of celebrated doctors and the enigmatic Spellati (The Skinned Men) holding up the canopy. Your travel assistant will unveil the symbolism of every carved element, from science to mythology, making the historical setting immediately understandable.
Quadrilatero (Pass by)
Immerse yourself in the aromas and energy of this ancient market. Use curated lists to know where to find the best artisanal shops for authentic mortadella, hand-rolled sfoglia (fresh pasta), and aged Parmesan cheese. Receive immediate translations and cultural context for local specialities, turning a simple browse into a deep culinary exploration. Learn the history of the medieval guilds that once operated here.
Basilica - Santuario di Santo Stefano (Pass by)
Explore this intricate, multi-layered complex, often called the "Bolognese Jerusalem." Your route map will guide you sequentially through the four remaining interconnected churches, explaining how the site was designed to replicate the holy places of the Crusades. Pause at the Courtyard of Pilate and the ancient baptismal fonts to appreciate the fusion of Romanesque, Lombard, and early Christian architecture.
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (Pass by)
Bypass the crowds with a focused itinerary highlighting masterpieces by artists like Raphael, Guido Reni, and the Carracci family. Your guide will provide deep critical context for key works, such as Raphael's Ecstasy of St. Cecilia, explaining their significance to the Bolognese school of painting and the shift from Renaissance to Baroque styles.
Ducati Museum (Pass by)
Immerse yourself in the history of one of the world's most iconic motorcycle brands. Your guide provides a thematic tour through the museum's four exhibition routes, focusing on the evolution of racing bikes and the engineering innovations from 1926 to the present day. Trace the evolution from early radio components to powerful Superbikes. If a factory tour is available, your tool will offer real-time explanations of the production line processes, revealing where dream motorcycles are conceived and built.
Biblioteca Salaborsa (Pass by)
Visit this stunning modern public library housed within the historic Palazzo d'Accursio. Your guide will focus your attention on the transparent glass floor where Roman and Etruscan archaeological ruins are visible beneath your feet. Access detailed historical summaries of the excavations and the ancient city of Felsina while surrounded by books, linking modern knowledge with ancient history.
Torre dell'Orologio (Pass by)
Climb the historic Clock Tower in Palazzo d'Accursio for a unique perspective over Piazza Maggiore. Your guide offers real-time identification of the clock face's mechanisms and historical significance. The admission often includes access to the Municipal Art Collections inside the palace, where your guide will showcase masterpieces and detail the political history of the civic buildings below.
Museum of the History of Bologna (Pass by)
Enter Palazzo Pepoli to explore a dynamic history lesson. Your experience uses interactive, multimedia exhibits to trace Bologna's history from the Etruscan era to the modern day. Focus on specific displays detailing the city's nicknames: La Dotta (the learned), La Rossa (the red), and La Grassa (the fat), understanding how food, politics, and culture shaped the city.
Museo Civico Medievale (Pass by)
Explore a curated collection of medieval artefacts, from illuminated manuscripts and tomb monuments to impressive armour. Your guide will focus on the works of the school of Bologna, particularly the magnificent bronze statue of Pope Boniface VIII. Use digital annotations to decode the heraldry and iconography of the artefacts, immersing yourself in the city's most powerful era.
Museo Civico Archeologico (Pass by)
Wander through extensive collections of Etruscan, Greek, Roman, and Palaeolithic artefacts. Your route will prioritise the museum's renowned Egyptian collection—one of Italy's most significant—providing context on its acquisition and notable pieces like the sarcophagi and canopic jars. Use digital tools to learn the life of the people who inhabited ancient Felsina
Mambo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna (Pass by)
Explore modern and contemporary art housed in a vast former bread bakery. Your guide will focus on the permanent collections, including the works of local still-life master Giorgio Morandi, offering analysis of his introspective painting style. The app can help you navigate themed sections that trace Italian art from the post-war period to the present.
Museo di Palazzo Poggi (Pass by)
Step into the 18th-century intellectual world of the University of Bologna. Your guide will highlight the extraordinary collection of scientific instruments, anatomical wax models, globes, and natural history specimens used for study. This experience is a trip through the Age of Enlightenment, revealing how scholars learned about the cosmos, anatomy, and the world
Complesso Monumentale San Michele In Bosco (Pass by)
Journey to this peaceful hilltop complex for one of the city's finest vantage points. While enjoying the panoramic view, discover the famous "optical illusion" in the adjacent courtyard, where the dome of San Luca appears to grow as you walk away from it. Your guide will explain the physics behind this trick and provide historical context on the complex's Renaissance architecture
Basilica di San Domenico (Pass by)
Visit the final resting place of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order. Your focus will be on the magnificent Arca di San Domenico, a marble tomb sculpted by Nicola Pisano, and later completed with figures by a young Michelangelo. Your guide provides a deep dive into the lives and works of the key artists who contributed to this sacred masterpiece
Oratorio Di Santa Cecilia (Pass by)
Discover this hidden jewel tucked beneath the Portico of San Giacomo Maggiore. Your guide will bring the vibrant 16th-century frescoes detailing the life of Saint Cecilia to life. Learn about the powerful Bentivoglio family who commissioned the art and the influence of the Bolognese Renaissance masters who executed these bright, well-preserved scenes.
Certosa di Bologna (Pass by)
Explore one of Europe's most beautiful and historic monumental cemeteries, built upon an ancient Etruscan necropolis. Your interactive map will guide you through the vast cloisters and porticoes, highlighting the most significant artistic tombs and memorials of prominent citizens, war heroes, and cultural figures. Receive historical context on the site's transformation from a Carthusian monastery.
Giardini Margherita (Pass by)
Escape the city bustle in Bologna's largest public park. Your guide can map out the park's historical design elements, including the man-made lake and bridge. Use the tool's image recognition features to identify various species of local and imported flora and find the best spots for a peaceful picnic or a quiet moment of repose in a Victorian-era setting.
Via Zamboni (Pass by)
Walk through the heart of the city's oldest academic area. Your guide will highlight the most historically significant university buildings, lecture halls, and student hangouts. Access historical anecdotes about student life and revolutionary movements that began here, allowing you to immerse yourself in the vibrant, erudite atmosphere that earned Bologna its nickname.
Casa Isolani (Pass by)
Walk through this spectacular covered passageway that connects Strada Maggiore with Via Santo Stefano. Your guide will provide a quick architectural analysis of the seamless blend of 13th-century wooden porticoes and Renaissance arches. Discover the history of the Isolani family and follow a hidden urban trail that reveals the city's layered past.
Osteria Del Sole (Pass by)
Find this historic osteria, continuously operating since 1465. Your guide provides the cultural history and local customs of this unique establishment, which sells wine but requires patrons to bring their own food. The tool suggests nearby Quadrilatero shops for the perfect pairing of salumi and formaggi to enjoy with a glass of local wine.
Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi (Pass by)
Walk along one of Bologna's most architecturally significant covered walkways. Your guide will detail the structure's design, which features 40 arches resting on stone columns. Learn about the adjacent Basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi and the historical purpose of this broad, elegant portico, which provided covered access for pilgrims and parishioners
Museo Davia Bargellini (Pass by)
Explore this quiet museum housed in the Palazzo Davia Bargellini. Your guide will focus on the unique collection of 17th- to 19th-century decorative arts, furniture, and objects that illustrate Bolognese daily life. Beyond the paintings, look for the intricate wrought-iron work and period ceramics, sharing the human stories behind these domestic treasures.
Palazzo Re Enzo (Pass by)
Explore the history of this medieval palace, built in 1245 as an extension of the municipal buildings. Your guide will focus on the palace's most famous resident, King Enzo of Sardinia (son of Emperor Frederick II), who was imprisoned here for over two decades. Use historical annotations to detail the legends of his captivity and the room where he was held until his death.
Orto Botanico di Bologna (Pass by)
Wander through the university's historic botanical garden, founded in 1568. Use plant recognition features to identify the various local and exotic species in the arboretum, greenhouses, and medicinal garden sections. Your tool can access a simplified version of the university's digital herbarium, connecting the living plants to their historical scientific study
Porta Saragozza (Pass by)
Visit one of the oldest surviving city gates, the starting point of the long Portico di San Luca. Your guide provides a historical overview of the gate's transformation from a simple medieval defence post to a monumental archway that framed the sacred icon's journey. Learn about the rituals and processions that still pass through this symbolic entrance.
Palazzo Bevilacqua (Pass by)
Admire the striking Venetian-influenced Renaissance façade of this private palace. Your architectural guide will use detail recognition to point out the unique diamond-point rustication and the decorative windows that set it apart from typical Bolognese architecture. Learn the history of the powerful Bevilacqua family who built it in the 15th century.
Casa di Lucio Dalla (Pass by)
Tour the vibrant home of the late, beloved Bolognese singer-songwriter, Lucio Dalla. Your audio guide uses interviews and music clips to tell the storey of the artist's life, his influence on Italian culture, and the personal objects and art collections left in his memory, providing an intimate cultural experience of a local icon.
Torre Prendiparte (Pass by)
Climb one of the city's other great medieval towers, known as the Coronata. Your visit is accompanied by stories detailing its past use as a seminary and, most notably, a prison. From the top terrace, your viewpoint guide identifies the medieval remnants and hidden rooftop gardens of the historic Jewish Ghetto area below.
Lamborghini Museum (Pass by)
Drive into the heart of the "Motor Valley" to explore the museum and factory. Your experience provides an in-depth analysis of Ferruccio Lamborghini's vision, tracing the brand's evolution from tractors to the Miura and Countach. If you take the factory tour, your audio guide explains the cutting-edge processes behind the V10 and V12 assembly lines.
Museo Ferrari (Pass by)
Visit the main museum dedicated to the global icon of speed. Your narrative will focus on Enzo Ferrari's life and the history of the Scuderia racing team, using digital archives to highlight key race wins and technological breakthroughs. Use the immersive engine sound booths to hear the distinct roars of historic Grand Prix cars and F1 legends.
Rocchetta Mattei (Pass by)
Journey to the Apennines to explore this one-of-a-kind, 19th-century eclectic fortress. Your map will guide you through the labyrinth of Moorish, Medieval, and Gothic styles. Discover the famous Courtyard of the Lions (inspired by the Alhambra) and the Chapel with its dizzying black-and-white arches, learning the storey of Count Cesare Mattei, the eccentric inventor who built it.
Castello Estense (Pass by)
Explore the massive, moated castle that dominates Ferrara's centre. Your guide provides a historical narrative focused on the powerful Este family who ruled here for centuries. Walk the prison cells, ducal apartments, and battlements, using visual aids to show the fortress's role as a political and military stronghold in the Renaissance
Palazzo dei Diamanti (Pass by)
In Ferrara, visit this striking Renaissance palace known for its unique exterior: over 8,000 marble blocks carved into diamond points. Your architectural assistant provides a close-up analysis of the stone work and explains its symbolic meaning. The experience includes a guide to the National Picture Gallery housed inside, highlighting the Ferranese school of painting.
Basilica di San Vitale (Pass by)
While just over 50 km, this UNESCO site is an essential trip. Your guide focuses on the 6th-century Byzantine mosaics, offering detailed, close-up descriptions of the famous panels of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, revealing the complex religious and political symbolism embedded in the golden tesserae.
Battistero Neoniano (Battistero degli Ortodossi) (Pass by)
Explore the oldest religious monument in Ravenna, famed for its stunning 5th-century mosaic ceiling. Your guide provides a circular path to analyse the central depiction of the Baptism of Christ and the surrounding Apostles, explaining the early Christian iconography and the transition from Roman to Byzantine art styles.
Mausoleo di Galla Placidia (Pass by)
Step inside this small, cross-shaped mausoleum for a profound visual experience. Your guide highlights the deep blue and gold mosaics that coat the ceiling and walls, focusing on the starry night sky and the symbolism of the decorative motifs, representing hope and salvation in the 5th century.
Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica (Pass by)
Discover a rich collection of musical instruments, scores, and portraits of famous musicians. Your audio tour focuses on key figures from the Bolognese musical school, like Rossini, and uses interactive displays to play short excerpts on period instruments, allowing you to hear the music as it sounded centuries ago.
Chiesa di San Giacomo Maggiore (Pass by)
Visit this important Augustinian church, famous for its grand Renaissance chapel. Your guide provides a detailed analysis of the Bentivoglio Chapel frescoes by Lorenzo Costa, showing the powerful family who commissioned the work and the transition of Bolognese art during the Renaissance period

Location

Activity location
  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Piazza Maggiore
    • Piazza Maggiore
    • 40121, Bologna, Italy
Meeting/Redemption Point
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Piazza Maggiore
    • Piazza Maggiore
    • Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

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