Press News - eXtraBO, il nuovo spazio informativo sul paesaggio verde di Bologna

Bologna, 13th December 2019 - A new space entirely dedicated to the green areas of Bologna and the Metropolitan City opens in the heart of the historical centre, right in front of the Fontana del Nettuno (Neptune Fountain) and on the corner with Via Rizzoli.

eXtraBo is the name chosen for this info point, whose goal is to become a reference point for nature trials and walks in the countryside in Bologna and its surroundings, from the city parks to the plains, up to the hillsides and snow of the Apennines.

A new space for tourist information in the heart of the city, thanks to which Bologna takes a further step in in-creasing the quality of hospitality and experience in the tourism industry, on which the city has been concen-trating its efforts for some time. A real window on the green areas, located in a strategic and very central point of Bologna, which offers a cross-section of the entire Metropolitan City as well as the points of interest even outside the walls of the historical centre.

Strongly promoted by the Municipality of Bologna and the Metropolitan City, with the operational management of Bologna Welcome, eXtraBo finds its origins from the awareness that the naturalistic heritage of the centre of Bologna and its surroundings represents a great wealth and a strong point in terms of tourist promotion of the territory but also in terms of improvement in the quality of life of the local citizens.

A vast area that goes from the heart of the city and its parks, up to the Plains and the Apennines, from Imola to Corno alle Scale. 133,000 hectares of hills and 160,000 hectares of plains to explore and appreciate: areas that are rich in waterways, cycle routes, paths for walking, climbing, skiing or even natural areas in which to ob-serve and photograph the flora and fauna of the territory.

The spotlight is therefore on the green areas and on the proposals linked to discovering the territory at a slow pace. A modality that is increasingly appreciated by both tourists and locals, as is shown by the now known success of itineraries, such as the Via degli Dei (Path of Gods), the path that connects Bologna to Florence.

The info point will be subdivided in three different areas: an entrance where visitors will find information material both in Italian and in various other foreign languages, maps of the territory, photos and videos. A second area, which is equipped with computer workstations prepared for autonomous use, will also be served by operators of the three different areas (namely, the Apennines and Parks of Eastern Emilia, the Bolognese Plains and the Imola area) in which the territory has been divided, in a simplified manner.

The operators will have the task of guiding visitors, answering questions and curiosities, proposing itineraries and services for visitors and selling tours and tourist packages.

A third and last area will, instead, be equipped for meetings, workshops, training sessions with seats, projector and work tables to welcome and accommodate both adults and children.

This new info point, coordinated by Bologna Welcome, represents a further step, which is part of a more com-prehensive and broader strategy for tourist accommodation in Bologna. Strategy that passes through many dif-ferent points of contact with the public: the information office in Piazza Maggiore, the info point in the arrivals area of the G. Marconi Airport, key places such as the Fiera di Bologna (Bologna Fair District), Fico-Eataly World, but also targeted actions, such as the initiative of the "Angels of hospitality", the outdoor tourist assis-tance service that is active at the height of the tourist season, and much more.

eXtraBo opens with a rich calendar of events dedicated to adults and children.

From 14th December, 2019 to 5th January, 2020, the main tourist facilities of the territory will take turns at dif-ferent weekends to animate the space of the info point between workshops, meetings and events to discover the Plains, the parks around the Imola area and the Apennines. The events scheduled during the holiday sea-son are the most varied: lectures on stones and archaeological findings from our mountains, photographic workshops to learn to lurk and capture on film the fauna of the parks, meetings on the stories of the Plains, ta-les of the villages and traditions of Imola and surroundings, concerts with the participants of the Porretta Soul festival and meetings with ski instructors and hiking guides.

The programme of events will continue also in the future, since the info point's vocation is that 1) to become a hub dedicated especially to families, 2) to educate children from an early age to appreciate life outdoors and to become curious about the many aspects of nature characterising our territory, and, finally, 3) to act as a collec-tor of proposals for activities and experiences to share together, adults and children.

PRESS OFFICE

• Alice Brignani - abrignani@bolognawelcome.it Tel. 347 051 0362

• Vittoria Donini - vdonini@bolognawelcome.it Tel. 051 00 24 744