The city plan of Felsina (this is the original name of Bologna) was designed by the Romans between the 2nd and the 3rd century BC, when they founded Bononia. It had a late republican style. The streets formed right angles so that the scheme could have been easily reproduced in case of enlargement of the city.

The squared city plan was divided by two main streets that now are called via Rizzoli and Via Ugo Bassi (from west to east), and via Galliera and via Val d’Aposa (from north to south).

Thanks to excavations, it has been found that the forum of the city was in via Ugo Bassi and the prefecture was in Piazza Nettuno.

The first settlements in the city are to be dated back to the 9th and 8th centuries.

The excavations of the 90’s have uncovered ruins of ancient buildings, three wells and a sewage system.