The Bell Tower of the Cathedral San Pietro, Bologna

I have been in a somewhat difficult relationship with my hometown of Bologna ever since my return in 2021. Much to my surprise and irritation, while I was away the placid city I was born and raised in had turned into a thriving tourist destination. Shock horror. Yes, people now come here in the thousands to visit what UNESCO has defined the best preserved medieval centre in the world and gorge on Bologna's famously rich cuisine.

One of the city's most unique quirks, one that I was not aware of until today, is the 70-metre-high bell tower of the Cathedral of San Pietro contains another, older tower inside it. Whilst the inner structure is believed to date back to the 10th century, when the cathedral underwent renovations in the 17th and 18th centuries, the architects built a new, taller tower around it, enveloping the original structure.

The view from the top is breathtaking. I found myself taking it in just like a tourist would, and the beauty of what I saw rekindled a sense of pride in my bolognesità. A word of warning: the winding staircase is narrow and steep, but the reward is immense and worth every step.

Access to the bell tower is usually available on weekends, with a modest 5 euro entry fee that includes a brief explanation and admission to the cathedral's crypt.

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