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Here are the new dates of Cosmoprof 2022!

Here are the new dates of Cosmoprof 2022! After 2 years of stopping, the most important fair in the world in the field of beauty and cosmetics returns with its 53rd edition. The new dates have been confirmed, the appointment will be at the end of April, specifically from 28 April 2022 to 02 May 2022, as is customary to host the event will be the Bologna exhibition district.

Cosmoprof posticipata

Here are the new dates of Cosmoprof 2022! The event will be held slightly later than the usual organizational period which sees it take place in mid-March. This choice was agreed in order to allow the participation of the largest number of international operators including exhibitors and visitors.

Confirmed all the main circuits of the fair from Cosmopack to Cosmo Hair in a renewed version full of events and initiatives!

BolognaFiere has already opened the pre-sales of tickets that can be purchased online at a discounted price until April 18, 2022, as always it will be possible to purchase a single entry or subscribe to multiple days of the event. For more info and costs, please refer to the BolognaFiere website dedicated to Cosmoporof Wide Word Bologna.

If you are already organizing your trip and are looking for a structure within walking distance of the Bologna fair, contact us! We will help you find the solution that best suits your needs. You can choose between ours Suites with Private SPA, Room with Jacuzzi or our confortable Apartments and Studios.

Please call our booking office +39 051 051 0157 or send us an mail to receive a special offer for your stay.

Looking forward to have you as a guest in Bologna!

Here are the new dates of Cosmoprof 2022!

The Seven Secrets of Bologna!

The Seven Secrets of Bologna!

The 7 Secrets of Bologna

Bologna is rumored to posess seven secrets, but it’s difficult to find information on the internet.

Likewise most of the Bolognese people and other Italian locals aren’t sure which ones are the famous seven secrets….

1. Neptune’s Virility in Piazza Nettuno

Risultato immagini per statua del nettuno bologna

Bologna’s famous statue, Neptune God in PiazzaStatua del nettuno bologna erezioneNettuno, was sculpted by Giambologna in the mid- 1500s, is the first stage to discover the seven secrets. While completing the Statue, Giambologna was asked by the Cardinal to reduce the Neptune virility, due to religious regulations at the time. Giambologna agreed with the Cardinal, and decided to hide a secret within the sculpture, to restore the God’s virility.

Giambattista studied a point of view, from the Sala Borsa, in directions to the Neptune, from which the hand of Neptune seems to be his penis. In fact, if you look the Stature from that corner, Neptune appears to have an erection. This was the sculpturist attemp to scream ‘stick it to them Neptune. Whether intention or not, its effect is certainly visible and has induced the checky visitors of the city chuckle at this news.

2. Whispering in the Archway of Palazzo del Podestà.

From Piazza Maggiore, turn your back to San Petronio and head towards the archway at the centre of Palazzo del Podestà.

Risultato immagini per segreto del palazzo del podestà bologna

Risultato immagini per segreto del palazzo del podestà bologna

 

You can play this game, if you stop in the right hand corner of the archway, while sending a friend to the opposite corner, diagonallywise.You can whisper right into the wall, and your friend from the opposite corner will hear you loud and clear, despite the traffic and the hustle of the city centre.

The funny thing is that these corner have turned black, for how many people tried the whispers game. Tradition holds that this was a place for lepers to confess their sins during the middle age, without getting direct contact with anyone.

3. Little Venice

Bologna sits on top of a network of underground channels that were built during the 12th Century similar to the ones in Venice. While walking around Bologna it is often possible to see some water flows. The secret is hidden in Via Piella, where you’ll see a window looking towards the hidden canals of Bologna. This one, is the Canale delle Moline, is a continuation of the Canale Reno. It’s called ‘Little Venice’ because the most beautiful channel, and the one which resemblance is mostly similar to those in Venice. Back at the time, channels were very importants for this industrial city, to move commodities and merchandise, there was even an area of the city that was essentially a port (the area around the actual Riva di Reno).

Risultato immagini per finestrella via piella

Risultato immagini per finestrella via piella

From the beginning of the 19th Century, during the post war reconstruction, these channels were largely blocked and replaced by roads. There are still a large number of underground water-passages; it’s even possible to organise a trip around them.

 

4. The Arrows in Corte degli Isolani

The entrance of Corte Isolani (a little passage full of trendy bars and shop which leads from Piazza Maggiore to Piazza Santo Stefano) is located on Strada Maggiore built of wooden beams dating back to mid 1400s. You should cast your gaze up to the ceiling above the street, and look carefully at the rafters you’ll be able to observe 3 arrows which are stuck, from the past centuries.

casa-isolani

Risultato immagini per freccie in corte isolani

From the legend we know that there were 3 villains, about to shoot a local merchant, but they were distracted by the appereance of an undressed maid at one of the windows. The arrows were sent loose, and failed to hit their target.

 

5. Panis Vita, Canabis Protectio, Vinum Laetitia.

While walking under the portico of Bologna in Via indipendenza, you will notice a strange inscription, Panis Vita, Canabis Protectio, Vinum Laetitia. It roughly can be translated as ‘Bread is Life, Cannabis protection, Wine is happiness’. This is a reference to the peak of medieval culture in Bologna, were Cannabis as a crop, was an important contributor for the city’s wealth in Emilia Romagna: we had the main centres to cultivate this plant, for its various purposes, from textile to rope-making.

Risultato immagini per cannabis protectio

6. The Broken Vase at the Top of the Asinelli Tower

The Asinelli Tower, alongisde the shorter tower, the Garisenda, dominate Bologna’s skyline. You’ll find them at the end of  Via Rizzoli. It is quite an arduous task to climb up to the top of the Asinelli tower, but it’s worth the view from the top of the city. Plus, this is the location where the 6th secret hides. On top of the tower there is a broken vase, which symbolises Bologna’s ability to solve conflicts and disputes; the reason why it became such a prosperous city.

Beware! Never climb the tower before you graduate, it brings back luck.

scale-torri-degli-asinelli-bologna

7.  Panum Resis in the University.

The final secret of Bologna, is a still a secret!

There is an inscription in one of the most historic tables in the University, in Via Zamboni, is the latin phrase Panum Resis. The phrase mans knowledgne as the ground for any decision. After checking with many graduates from the Alma Mater Studiorum, the world’s oldest University, none have been able to find the place where this inscription is hidden.

Risultato immagini per panum resis

So…

Happy hunting ;)

Book With Us and come to discover The Seven Secrets of Bologna!

 

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2021 postponed – Here’s the new dates in September!

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2021: The New Dates!

The date for the world reference fair in cosmetics and professional beauty industry has been postponed once again due to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic

The new Cosmoprof Worlwide Bologna 2021 dates have already been officially communicated, it will be held in Bologna fair district from the 9th of September to the 13th of September 2021.

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2021: The New Dates!

After a few prorogations, the date of September 2021 seems to be the definitive one, this because the vaccination in the countries with the largest participation in the event is proceeding quickly.

Here at 4Star we will be glad to welcome you in our facilities, professionally sanitized and equipped with self access which allows our guests to avoid physical contacts; everything will be managed remotely for your safety.

Keep an eye on our news! We will publish real soon our Cosmoprof Welcome Package 2021, with all the concessions and exclusive services dedicated to the guests who would like to choose to stay at 4 Star Bologna, just a few steps from the Historical City Centre and a few minutes by car, bus or shuttle from the Fair District.

In the meantime you can check the availability and rates of our rooms and apartments from our website, or choose our Rooms with Hydromassage Bathtub or the Suites with Private SPA for a well deserved relax after an intense day of work at the fair!

Don’t hesitate to Contact us for any further information!
See you soon!
4 Star Staff

 

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2021: The New Dates!

People Mover has now arrived to Bologna

People Mover has now arrived to Bologna!

Happy to announce that the People Mover has been launched today for its first ride🥳

People Mover has now arrived to Bologna, from now on, you’ll be able to travel from the Airport to Bologna Central Station, and to easily reach our Facilities, in only 7 minutes, on the new shuttle, called Marconi Express.

people-mover-marconi-express

For all our guests who’ll arrive from Bologna airport, it will be possible to reach our apartments and our rooms in less than 15 minutes. In fact, we are located 350meters, from the exit on ‘Piazzale Est’.

From train station to 4 Star Bologna

With this traveling mode, you’ll be able to avoid long queues and lots of traffic, with the privilege of a fast, comfortable and sustainable mean of transport, through a overhead pathaway and without interruptions.

Furthermore, it won’t be necessary to book a taxy, or to rush to get the airport in time for your flight, the morning of your departure; you will just need to reach the station, to be able to arrive at the airport in record time.

This service will remain active from today, 365 days a year, with 8 departures every hour, from 5:40 am to Midnight.

The Marconi Express Stop is located in the hall in via De’ Carracci, at the Central Station, whilst from the airport, as soon as you get off the plane and you walk through the Arrival area, you simply need to follow the signs for the Marconi Express, to reach the first floor in the Departure area.

A single ticket costs 8.70€, while children under 4 years old are exempt from paying.

If you wish to know more regarding family discounts and rates for big groups of people, you can visit this section in the Marconi Express, clicking this link

We also want to remind you that the tickets can be acquired from Marconi Express Website, downloading the app Muver and Roger, or reaching a Tper shop, or Bologna Welcome store.

You can also buy the ticket from the automatic ticket machines, at the Airport as well as at the Central Station.

If you are in a rush, and you don’t know have time to buy the ticket, you can directly pay contacless at the entrance !!!!

With this new Transport, we managed to eliminate the distances from Bologna airport to our Facilities!

Now we can say it! We’ll be waiting for you, just ”within walking distance” from the airport, to enjoy our beautiful apartments, and our super comfy rooms, or to relax in our amazing Suites with Private Spa!

If you need more information on how to use the People Mover to reach our Facilities, Just contact us!!!

We can’t wait to hear what you think about this super comfortable new service! 😃

Greetings,

4Star Staff.

People Mover has now arrived to Bologna!

What to see in Bologna: Piazza Maggiore

Going back to our steps along the Via dell’Archiginnasio we enter in Piazza Maggiore, simply ‘the square’ for the people from Bologna, surrounded by the most important buildings in the medieval city. The most ancient one is the Podestà Palace, surmounted by the Arengo Tower.

The most ancient is Palazzo del Podestà surmounted by the Arengo tower, located near Palazzo Re Enzo under which its vault opens up for pedestrian crossing. It is right here that we suggest you to stop to have a little game. Under the vault you can play “Chinese Whispers”. One needs to whisper something in a corner, and the person on the opposite corner will hear him/her!

Finally you cannot leave the square without visiting our Cathedral, San Petronio dedicated to the city’s Patron Saint. The Church was built in 1390 and however it has not been completed it still remains one of biggest churches in Europe. Inside the cathedral, you will see wonderful frescoes and imponent vaults, the biggest sundial of the world and two of the most ancient pipe organs in Italy. It is free of charges to visit the Cathedral but there is a €2,00 fee if you would like to take pictures and videos.Cathedral but there is a €2,00 fee if you would like to take pictures and videos.

Behind the cathedral, in Galvani square, you can have behind the cathedral, in Galvani square, you can have access to the roof terrace where you can see Bologna from a 54 metres height. To ride up there is an elevator that will take you directly on the terrace. The ticket for the entrance is €3,00.

 
  

Near the square, we find the Nettuno Fountain, one of the symbols of the city, work of the famous Flemish sculptore Giambologna. Before going back home, I sugget to go back in time, the time of the ancient Bononia, by entering the Sala Borsa. In 800′ it was the centre of the economical life, today is one of the most important cultural places with its rich multimedial library. In the centre of the structure, on the floor, right under the visitors’ feet, a crystal floor exhibits the origins of the city. Here you can have a coffee looking at the art decò cielings and the archaeological findings on which the city rises today.

 

Cathedral opening hour: Monday – Friday: 07:45am/1:30pm – 2:30pm/6:00pm
Saturday – Sunday: 07:45am/6:30pm
 Terrace opening hour: Monday – Thursday: elevator every 20 minutes from 11:00am to 1:00pm (last elevator at 12:40pm) and from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (last elevator 5:40pm)

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: elevator every 20 minutes from 10:00am to 1:00pm( last elevator at 12:40pm) and from 2:30pm to 6:00pm (last elevator 5:40pm)

The centre of Bologna is right here and our apartments are just few steps away!

Book with us now!

What to see in Bologna: the Quadrilatero Area, The Pavaglione and the Archigymnasium

From  piazza Santo Stefano we get inside the Quadrilatero area an area of artigianal ancient tradition, commercial and mercantile, that had its most development in the Middle Age.

This is the place where the principal corporations of professions in the city.

At the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, the heart of the Quadrilatero has become the centre of sales activities, in the Middle Age, that were then spread mostly in the narrow road so called Mercato di Mezzo, that later become the reconstruction of Via Rizzoli.

In this area you will find, in particular, jewelry stores, butchers, fruit and vegetable’s stands, bakeries, typical gastronomical stores, and other artisan’s and commercial activities of a long tradition.

Exiting the Quadrilatero, along the street near San Petronio (Archygimnasium road) under the portico of Pavaglione, you will see the Archygimnasium  Palace, headquarter of the original and most ancient University in the East, founded in 1088.

Here it is worth to see the Anatomic Theatre the antique classroom where students attended anatomic lessons. Here the bodies were placed on the table in the middle of the room, while a priest from the Inquisition controlled from a small window with a grate that the limits imposed by religion were not exceeded.

The canopy of the desk is supported by two wooden statues, realised in 1734, by the famous sculpturist and anatomist Ercole Lelli. These very statues were called “The Skinned” because they represented the inside of a male body.

Opening hours:

Monday-Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am – 7:00pm

Sunday and holidays: 10:00am – 2:00pm

The ticket office closes 15 minutes before the Theatre.
Ticket: €3,00

Do you want to find out these and other marvels of Bologna’s centre? Our apartments are few steps away!

Book with us now

What to see in Bologna: San Luca

After exploring the city and its most iconic places, such a The Two Towers and Piazza Maggiore, we can have a walk outside the walls.

We get to Porta Saragozza, where you can find the longest portico in the world ( 3.796 meters) that connect the city to the Sanctuary of San Luca. 

The original legends recount that the spring in 400 was so rainy that people in Bologna entrusted themselves to Queen Mary, bringing the icon of Madonna and Child, kept in Custody in the Sanctuary. As soon the icon has entered into city the rain stopped. From that episode on, every year the parade is repited, starting from the Sanctuary until the city, and the more the year passed by, from 1674 to 1721, it has been decided to build a portico to protect the worshippers from the rain during the parade.

The Portico contains totally 666 arches, not by chance the devil’s number: the longest portico in the world would in fact represent the snake, the evil, that gets eclipsed by the beauty and the strenght of the Sanctuary, and the Madonna. 

The Sanctuary of San Luca, whose dominant style is baroque, is set up on top of Colle della Guardia (approximately 300 metres high) it is dedicated to the Catholic Marian movement. You can already notice its profile when you are in proximity to Bologna, when one is still traveling on the highway. For the people from Bologna is in fact a reference point, it is the awareness to already be at home. 

What to see in Bologna: Finestrella di Via Piella

Let’s continue our trip at the discovery of the marvelous spots of Bologna, with a small curiosity.

Walking along Via Indipendenza, before the crossing over with Via Marsala, we get to the portico of Via Piella. 

On the right we find a small window that opens up on a unexpected Bologna, the one with the where its water flow underground, which -up until two centuries
ago- they were uncovered channels.
Looking through the small window the channel that flows between the coloured windows, enables one to live in a Venetian foreshortening.

The channel is the continuum of one of the main channels in Bologna, the Reno channel, at the entrance the city splits in two branches: the Cavaticcio’s channel and Moline’s channel.

In the medieval Bologna the channels were very important for communications and some of them were also navigable.

The Moline Channel at the time was utilised to produce the necessary energy to plump 15 water mills.

From the beginning of Nineteenth Century and the Post war Period most of the channels got buried: the small window gives us an idea of the ancient Bologna.

Would you like to stay in Bologna, just few steps away from the Finestrella ? Book with us!

What to see in Bologna: Pincio’s Staircase and Montagnola Fountain

Pincio’s Staircase and Montagnola Fountain

Ourtrip at the discovery of Bologna begins only few steps away from the apartment, where you can admire the monumental “Scalinata del Pincio”.

The 28th June 1986 King Umberto I and the queen Margherita celebrated, in front of the an overwhelming crowd,the scenographic staircase that makes the access possible to the Montagnola Park.

This staircase was ideated by Tito Azzolini and Attilio Muggia. The construction began in 1893 by order of the Mayor Dallomo and continued for three years afterwards, without interruptions, taking on average 100-150 workers per day. The terrain that had been digged was necessary to fill the pit between Porta S.Isaia and Porta Lame.

Pincio Staircase – Bologna Mountain

Overall, the work was composed of three parts: the staircaise is decorated with approximately 70 chandelieres, the portico on Via Indipendenza, and the structure of portici along the walls.

Central body is composed of two separated fronts, displaying on top a panoramic terrace which is only accessible from the lateral stairs.

The principal front is decorated by two bas-reliefs: the Arturo Colombarini ‘Bologna Docet‘ and the Ettore Sabbioni ‘Bologna Libertas‘. Centre is adorned by a fountain, created by Diego Sarti and Pietro Veronesi, on Muggia’s and Azzolini’s drawing.

Our sculpture works around a classical theme, although he does not leave anything to perception that can be related to noble morality. Instead he focuses on the evident sensuality of the nymph who is attempting to save herself from an octopus’ tentacles.

A seahorse comes to her aid, which with his passion and strenght succeeds in saving her. This work of art is the maximum achievement of a 100 years of local school, starting from work of plaster and mud, to bronze and marble. This represents the phenomenon of progress relative to Bologna and to the Unification of Italy.

Sarti places a highly-senxual image in a public place, something that had not happen since the good old times of the prosperous mermaids of the Neptune Fountain in the Sixteenth Century. It will be further vulgarly called ‘the Giant’s wife’, namely the Neptune, and Giosue Carducci will dedicate to her a famous sonnet.

The name derives from the famous roman hill called Pinciano, and also called Pincio. It offers a beautiful view over the city, and the antiquity has been replaced by houses and gardens. After the unification of Italy, we assist to the arrival of many parks spread all over the Country that take the name of the Pincio in honour of the capital.

In fact, such as the Roman Pincio, these parks offer a panoramic terrace from which one can access through a monumental staircase.

If you’re looking for a place to stay near in Bologna, and near pincio’s Staircase, book it now!

Continue our trip in Bologna in the next stop: Finestrella di Via Piella also known as “Little Venice

Pincio’s Staircase and Montagnola Fountain