Quadrilatero
Quadrilatero
4.5
NeighbourhoodsPoints of Interest & Landmarks
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Santo Stefano
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See what travellers are saying
  • Brad
    Hong Kong, China177,433 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Food haven just east of Piazza Maggiore
    This is a busy market and foodie area just to the east of Piazza Maggiore where you find several narrow streets lined with fresh food produce dealers, fishmongers, green grocers, salumeria, cheese shops, wine bars, many casual eateries and market buildings with food and drinks which you can enjoy while hanging out with friends or family. You can also pick up nice food items here that you can enjoy back in your hotel or apartment. If you have kitchen facility, can be enjoyable to prepare a bit of food from the shops and vendors that line the streets of Quadrilatero.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 March 2024
  • Kurt C
    Malta53 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Experiencing Bolognese life with the old market
    This area in Bologna is close to Piazza Maggiore. The Quadrilatero experience was something that we enjoyed. Many typical shops of Bologna such as Salumerias, Fish stalls, Artisan homemade pasta and more. It was not that crowded and hence we could enjoy this experience much better. Will surely recommend this hidden gem in Bologna
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 June 2024
  • phat_dawg_21
    Alpharetta, Georgia17,382 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Neighborhood near Piazza Maggiore
    This is a neighborhood near Piazza Maggiore where you will find many of the major towers. There are lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants. It is named the Quadrilateral because it is a rectangle bounded on four sides by Via Farina, Via Castiglione, Via Rizzoli and Via dell'Archiginnasio. We visited on a Sunday morning and found people enjoying the cafes and purchasing food and flowers at a streets market. We went back in the evening, and it was jammed with people out enjoying a light dinner.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles618 reviews
Excellent
411
Very good
181
Average
16
Poor
2
Terrible
8

mixers
london england143 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
If you eating, buying or just gazing at amazing food then you have to spend some time wandering the narrow streets of this area.

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to enjoy a coffee, snack or meal and loads of places to buy food for taking away and eating in one of the many piazzas or parks nearby. A bit touristy of course but mainly supported by locals
Written 1 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brad
Hong Kong, China177,433 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
This is a busy market and foodie area just to the east of Piazza Maggiore where you find several narrow streets lined with fresh food produce dealers, fishmongers, green grocers, salumeria, cheese shops, wine bars, many casual eateries and market buildings with food and drinks which you can enjoy while hanging out with friends or family. You can also pick up nice food items here that you can enjoy back in your hotel or apartment. If you have kitchen facility, can be enjoyable to prepare a bit of food from the shops and vendors that line the streets of Quadrilatero.
Written 30 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Domenico
Bologna, Italy770 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Solo
While walking I came across the so-called quadrilateral again, i.e. the old streets around Piazza Maggiore which I must say I found if possible to be worse, a huge tourist trap where junk of all kinds is sold, full of the famous cutting boards dripping with low quality cured meats. and high price, with smells that I leave to your imagination, real rubbish, poor Bologna and poor exploited tourists.
Written 22 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kurt C
Malta53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
This area in Bologna is close to Piazza Maggiore. The Quadrilatero experience was something that we enjoyed. Many typical shops of Bologna such as Salumerias, Fish stalls, Artisan homemade pasta and more. It was not that crowded and hence we could enjoy this experience much better. Will surely recommend this hidden gem in Bologna
Written 12 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Domenico
Bologna, Italy770 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Solo
A big tourist trap. Low quality food and High prices. Devoted to Mass tourism. Walk ten minuts more and eat somwhere far from Piazza Maggiore. In Piazza Santo Stefano there Is a supermarket with food to go very good, at the right side of the church.
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Asiyah Noemi K
Pula, Croatia5,351 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The true spirit of Bologna can be felt here in Quadrilatero.This is the commercial heart of the old town center, overflowing with goods on the stands that are scattered along via Pescherie and via Drapperie, and full of noisy sellers and customers going by. To the east of Piazza Maggiore, the grid of streets around Via Clavature (Street of Locksmiths) sits on what was once Roman Bologna. Known as the Quadrilatero, this compact district is a great place for a wander with its market stalls, happening cafes and lavishly stocked gourmet delis. Nowadays the Quadrilatero is the historical center area bounded by piazza Maggiore, via Rizzoli, piazza della Mercanzia, via Castiglione, via Farini, piazza Galvani and via dell’Archiginnasio. Leaving behind us the elegant piazza Maggiore, the path leads to the narrow and odorous alleys of the old medieval market with the characteristic “holes”. Jewelers, butchers, delicatessens, greengrocer’s, bakeries, shops with traditional cuisine and craft activities and other specialized trades are located in these streets. Most of these shops have preserved the historic architecture and furnishing, thus making them genuine artistic treasures.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Timzorrr
Edmonds, WA1,598 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
The Quadrilatero is a neighborhood in Bologna where merchants have been doing business since the middle ages.
There are all sorts of merchants there now and some amazing fresh produce!
The area is near Piazza Maggiore and heads in the direction of the two towers.
It is a must see while in Bologna.
We visited it while on a segway tour with Bolognaway Segway.
Written 2 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,440 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
If you only have limited time in Bologna, this is one area where you can see a lot in a short time. The area is just off Piazza Maggiore and is the ancient market area and the heart of the old city. Piazza Maggiore is an excellent place to start a day trip in Bologna and the Tourist Information Centre is conveniently located there. After picking up some maps and advice from the Tourist Information, we checked out the basilica and palazzos in the piazza, and then we were easily able to explore the Quadrilatero area. There are a lot of walking or food tours of this area but we chose to just walk through it ourselves. To be honest, I think this was the best way to enjoy it.
My favourite part was Via Pescherie Vecchie, a lane running off Piazza Maggiore with colourful fruit, veg and fish markets, delicatessens and small restaurants with some of the best local foods. We had several days in Bologna so we kept returning to this lane to eat at Vecchio Malga or Simonis (both family run for generations).
If you are exploring on your own, other points of interest are:
• The Mercato Mezzo - not unlike a food court but a local, Italian version
• Santa Maria della Vita Church – relatively non-descript from the outside but don't be put off as it is worth going in for a short visit and entry is free (I have put a separate review on this)
• L’Archiginnasio - don't miss this beautiful old building which housed the university of Bologna for centuries. The original Anatomy Theatre is definitely worth a look (I have put separate reviews on these)
Written 18 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The Travelling Piggy
London, UK6,241 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Solo
This being my foodie trip I don’t know why I left this area for my last day and it being a Sunday!!! Most places were closed so i had lunch elsewhere but I saw so many restaurants (closed) but it’s a lovely area to walk around
Written 20 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rdudhia211
London, UK61 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
This walk around the Quadrilatero gives you a wonderful understanding of Italian life, cuisine and culture.
Written 5 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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QUADRILATERO (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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