Under the skies of Bologna: picturesque spots for stargazing in summer

Bologna: Monte Donato and Villa Spada Park - San Pellegrino

If you don’t want to stray too far from the city, the famous Bolognese Hills are the obvious choice. Just a few minutes’ drive or bus ride away, the light pollution fades, revealing unexpected glimpses of the sky.

• Monte Donato: This is one of the most popular vantage points among the people of Bologna. From up here, the view stretches out over the illuminated city, but you only need to turn your back on the lights of the city centre to find shaded areas ideal for spotting the summer constellations.
Address: via Monte Donato, Bologna

• Villa Spada Park and San Pellegrino Park: Heading up from Via Saragozza, you enter Villa Spada Park and, continuing on, you reach the meadows of San Pellegrino Park. Lie down on the grass with the silhouette of the Sanctuary of San Luca as your backdrop: the atmosphere here is simply poetic.
Address: via di Casaglia,  Bologna

The Apennines: Prati di Mugnano and Corno alle Scale

For true Milky Way hunters, the key is ‘altitude’. The higher you climb, the clearer the air becomes and the sky lights up with thousands of tiny points of light.

• Prati di Mugnano (Sasso Marconi): A classic and easily accessible destination. This vast grassy plateau is a favourite spot for families and groups of friends: there’s space for everyone, no awkward slopes, and a lack of light and noise pollution that makes it one of the best places to set up a telescope or a simple camera to capture the International Space Station’s passes.
Address: via Mugnano, Sasso Marconi (Bo)

• Corno alle Scale: If you’re looking for ‘true darkness’, head to the heart of the Corno alle Scale Regional Park. On the heights of the Bolognese mountains, the total absence of light pollution will leave you speechless. On clear nights, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye in all its dramatic beauty.
Address: SP del Cavone, Lizzano in Belvedere (Bo)

Stars and Science: the sanctuaries of astronomy in the Bologna area

If, alongside the romantic thrill, you’re looking for the precision of science, the metropolitan city of Bologna is brimming with centres of excellence that organise evening openings and summer events.

• Medicina Radio Telescope: This is home to the famous “Northern Cross”, one of the largest parabolic antennas in the world. Gazing at the stars with the giant silhouettes of the radio telescopes silhouetted against the night sky has an unforgettable sci-fi charm.
Address: via Fiorentina, Medicina (Bo) 

• Museum of the Sky and Earth (San Giovanni in Persiceto): A real must-visit for enthusiasts. Its nearby Planetarium and astronomy area offer a packed summer programme of evenings led by expert amateur astronomers, which are also ideal for children.
Address: via baciadonne 1, San Giovanni in Persiceto (Bo)

• Monte San Pietro Observatory: Located in the village of Felsina, this observatory nestled in the hills regularly organises public telescope viewing evenings, combining scientific outreach with the beauty of the hilly landscape.
Address: via varsellane 12, Monte San Pietro (Bo)

• Loiano Astronomical Station: Run by the OAS (Bologna Observatory of Astrophysics and Space Science), it is home to the historic Cassini Telescope. Nestled in the woods of the Apennines, it is the place where scientific research meets the public beneath one of the clearest skies in the region.
Address: via nazionale, Loiano (Bo)