The Atlantic hotel in Bolognia is very well situated if you are arriving into the city by train – about a 10-min suitcase-draggable walk down the Via Galliera. Also, if you have children, it is well-placed to take advantage of the play equipment in the Parco della  Montagnola.

Parco della  Montagnola isn’t the nicest park in Bologna, that accolade goes to Giardini Regina Margherita but it is very close to the busy flea market, which takes place every weekend in Piazza dell ‘Otto Agosto. 

We spent a very enjoyable Sunday morning rummaging the clothes stalls for cheap underwear and  shoes and sampling local delicacies from the food vans. While the children enjoyed the display by a local medieval society who were demonstrating traditional crafts such as spinning, lace-making, wood turning and ironmongery. 

From the market it is just a hop skip and a jump to the play area in the park. It is a bit run down, but my children didn’t mind, and they spent a fun hour playing trains and castles and then collecting sticks from the drained fountain to make a ‘stick shop’.

Because the hotel Atlantic is equidistant between the station and Neptune’s fountain in the centre, it meant we could get the kids home for a nap and then take an afternoon stroll down the Via dell Indipendenza enjoying the busking musicians and browsing in the shops on our way for an aperitivo at Tamburini Winebar where they serve great platters of ham and cheese to wash down with a glass or two of vino, and lovely homemade pasta for the kids.

A lovely Sunday in Bologna.