Bologna in the summer is a cinephile’s dream. In late June every year, the Cineteca di Bologna puts on the Cinema Ritrovato film festival, celebrating the history of cinema and the organisation’s mission of restoring film. When we arrived in Bologna, we were saddened to hear we’d just missed it by a day, only to be cheered up by learning about the Sotto le Stelle del Cinema festival, running throughout July and August and playing classic and modern films in the heart of the city on Europe’s largest screen in front of the Basilica of San Petronio. The programme is enormously varied, featuring documentaries, live cast and crew interviews, blockbusters, Italian classics and silent films accompanied by live orchestras, but regardless of what you see, you’re in for a treat.
The festival is a tremendously civil affair and is entirely free. People turn up in the Piazza Maggiore hours before to get a seat, so consider doing so and bringing a book if you want one. Even if you don’t get a seat, there’s plenty of room on the steps around the piazza. Also bear in mind that the summer evenings can get a little wet in Bologna so check the weather forecast. Staff patrolled the audience and made sure that everyone had received a cushion for the duration of the film and the audience themselves was very civilised. It was an excellently implemented event that serves as an example of what public celebrations should be.
Even if you’re a film-lover visiting Bologna outside of the summer, don’t be disheartened. The Cinema Lumière, which is also organised by the Cineteca di Bologna, has screenings every day celebrating everything film has to offer.
Click here for our Bologna city guide.
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