One of Italy's busiest railway stations stands just outside the old heart of Bologna. It's a 19th-century neo-classical landmark that is open 24 hours and deals with 800 trains a day, ranging from high-speed international services to local branch lines. Bologna Centrale has become a busy transport hub. At this point on Piazza delle Medaglie d'Oro, the city bus network links to both the north-south and east-west rail lines. Visitors who collect a hire car at Bologna Central Railway Station will find that the station piazza leads straight onto the SS64, Bologna's inner ring road, giving access to all areas of the city.
With a hire car, it's easy to explore the historic city of Bologna. The medieval heart of this lively university city is within the SS64 ring road where the churches, monuments and towers of Piazza Maggiore rival Florence and Sienna's attractions. There are all the galleries and museums you'd expect from an ancient Italian tourist city, but look out for the quirky shops and restaurants too. And it is, of course, a city where you should sample the spaghetti bolognese. Further afield, Ferrari's hometown at Maranello and the graceful old city of Modena make great day trips from Bologna.
