Bologna, situated in the north of Italy, is the seventh city in Italy as far as the number of inhabitants (almost 400,000) and sixth in economic importance. The metropolitan area of Bologna (more than 900,000 inhabitants) ranks second after Milan in what concerns life-added-value.
Bologna is the administrative capital and main city of Emilia-Romagna; it is also one of the most important node of communications of Italy (railways, roadways and telecommunications). Alongside its strong commercial and entrepreneurial tradition, Bologna has always been a city of “teachers and students”, earning the nickname “the Learned”.
Bologna is the home of the oldest University in the world, founded on 1088. Bologna’s deep cultural heritage can be seen in its 43 museums, 14 theatres, 50 cinemas, and more than 200 libraries. The emphasis on the city’s cultural offerings and its artistic heritage should not overshadow the fact that Bologna is also a global and cosmopolitan city.