Waking up early to a radiant Sunday morning after a late night out with friends, I decide a leisurely stroll in Bologna was just the ticket. I love Sunday mornings in Italy as, like myself, they start out slowly and build up momentum as the day advances. It’s quiet even at 9:00 AM as people are either sleeping off a late-night or attending Sunday church.

Strolling

I head out to my local cafe which I knew would be calm as they tend to liven up around 10:30AM on a Sunday. After fortifying myself with a brioche salata (plain croissant) and a cappuccino all for a mere 2.80€ (euro) I start out in the direction of a piazza not far from my apartment.  Every Sunday morning the food stands here sell what we in the US know as organic but what is called BIO in Italy.  Pronounced “bee-o” it is short for biological. It is a small market but has lots of cheeses, breads, honey and olive oils in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables.  Piazza Giosue Carducci, with its green areas, a museum dedicated to the Risorgimento (reunification of Italy), lots of benches for reading or observing and old buildings is a favorite of mine. People are just starting to wander into the market and parents are playing with their young children.

Bio food market at Piazza Giosue Carducci

Second hand markets

From here I wander through some little side streets that bring me to one of the major spokes in the old city.  I remember that the sister of one of my Italian friends posted on Facebook that she was at a fair nearby to help support the associated church. Upon arriving I notice that there are a few tables selling second-hand items and some older momentos. I chat for a bit with the sister and she tells me of a larger fair almost right next door at a larger church. Off I go to explore what items are on display and find this has a theme of Re-use with Love.  I was surprised to see this in English and at first didn’t give it a second thought as this market looked so much like any flea market or church bazaar you would find in the US.

Re-Use Circus Market, Bologna

Second-hand market

Antique markets

Resuming my stroll down this main Via Santo Stefano, I am brought to its Piazza and remember as I approach that this is the monthly antiques market. The piazza is filled with vendors selling jewelry, vintage sunglasses, furniture, Bologna memorabilia and lots more. As the morning sun gets higher in the sky, there are more people browsing the booths and the local restaurants are setting up the outside tables for lunch. Sunday lunch is usually the main meal and most restaurants are closed Sunday evening.

Antiques market, Santo Stefano

Antiques market in Bologna

Street art

Getting closer to the main piazza in Bologna, more people are spilling out onto the streets.  In Bologna on the weekend, they close the main thoroughfare leading from the train station and the perpendicular streets it feeds to all vehicular traffic. This imparts a festive mood to these appropriately named T Days and you can hear street musicians along the way or see artists decorating the streets with chalk renditions of famous painters.

Street art Bologna

Bologna garden show

As I make my way back to my apartment I decide to make one more stop to the nearby Giardini Margherita. This lovely park or gardens is just minutes from my apartment and I love taking long walks through it before I do my morning shopping or as a cool oasis on a hot summer evening.  This weekend it features the annual garden show.  Not only are there rows upon rows of beautiful plants to take home but also garden furniture and supplies.  No large gathering of Italians would be complete without food so you can also sample some of the fast food I described in my last blog.

Delphiniums at Bologna Garden Show

Colorful plants brighten your stroll

There are also stands with jewelry and handbags, spices and herbs and a large center booth showcasing fresh fruit and vegetables from Sicily. As cherries are now in season I indulge in these delights along with some juicy oranges.

Silcilian fruits

And so I end my slow stroll through Bologna on this warm Italian day and head back to my apartment to edit the photos for this blog. Sundays may start out quiet but they always promise some delights for the eyes and ears and usually a few for the stomach as well. Sunday is still a big family day here and people come into the city with their children and dogs to partake in these local festivities. No matter the season there is always some engaging activity around the corner. Afternoons get quiet as people retreat to their homes or restaurants for their meals but you can always count on one last evening passiegiata or stroll before finally heading home for the day.

Buona Domenica

This is what people say when greeting you on a Sunday for it’s a day meant to be truly relished.