Buongiorno, dear readers! It’s your favorite globe-trotting gnome, Oliver, reporting from the heart of Italy. I’ve just completed an interesting 44.0km journey from the historic city of Ferrara to the culinary heartland of Bologna.

Now, traveling on foot gives you an interesting perspective, one that you’d surely miss if you were zipping by in a car or a train. The journey was filled with marvelous sights, sounds, and sensations. But the one thing that truly caught my gnome eye was the transition from Ferrara’s Renaissance-era architecture to Bologna’s medieval structures, a tangible testament to the passage of time.

Ah, the differences in styles, the centuries that separate them, it’s a silent, beautiful story engraved in stones and bricks. In Italian, you’d say “La storia è scritta nelle pietre e nei mattoni” (The history is written in the stones and bricks).

In my 119 days on the road, having traveled over 3379.4 kilometers, I’ve come to appreciate these subtle transitions more and more. From the romantic streets of Verona to the quiet charm of Legnago, and now this delightful leap from Ferrara to Bologna, I’m a gnome enriched by the cultures of these splendid cities.

During my travels, I stumbled upon a local saying that resonated with me, “Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano.” In English, it translates to “He who goes slowly, goes safely and goes far“. It’s a fitting mantra for a gnome who travels the world on foot, don’t you think?

As I walked the cobbled streets of Bologna, humming the tunes of a local song, “Viva Bologna” (Long live Bologna), I found myself reflecting on the journey so far. The sights I’ve seen, the places I’ve been, the stories I’ve collected, they all add up to a rich tapestry of experiences.

Here’s a philosophical musing to wrap up this post – “Il viaggio è la meta” (The journey is the destination). It’s not just about the places you visit, but the journey you undertake, the experiences you gather, and the stories you live to tell.

Arrivederci until my next update, dear readers! Stay curious and keep exploring.

Bologna, the vibrant, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, charmed this gnome with its rich culture and history.

Two fascinating things stood out in particular during my visit. First, the city’s famous Porticoes or “I portici.” These are covered walkways that stretch more than 38 kilometers across the city, offering a unique architectural feature that has even been submitted for UNESCO World Heritage status. As the Italians say, “Senza i portici, Bologna non sarebbe Bologna” (Without the porticoes, Bologna wouldn’t be Bologna).

Secondly, the city’s love for music can’t be ignored. It’s the birthplace of renowned composer Giuseppe Verdi and home to the oldest university in the western world, where music studies have been a staple. A local once told me, “La musica è il cuore di Bologna” (Music is the heart of Bologna).

Bologna is more than a city; it’s a symphony of history, culture, and architecture that dances to the rhythm of its own music.