Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) in Bologna at Palazzo d’Accursio

A fantastic tourist attraction to visit in Bologna is the Torre dell’Orologio, a beautiful clock tower at the Palazzo d’Accursio. The palace is home to the Municipal Art Collections, and the interior is pretty special to visit.

The main reason for my visit was the views of the city, including a view of Piazza Maggiore from above. This is one of many tourist attractions in Bologna.

Entry to Torre dell’Orologio Clock Tower

The clock tower is part of the palace, and the ticket includes entry to both the tower and the Municipal Art Collections. Booking is compulsory and can be done in advance online. The booking procedure for Torre dell’Orologio was pretty straightforward on their website.

The ticket includes entry to the municipal art collections in the Palazzo d’Accursio. The tower has timed admissions throughout the day, with opening times changing seasonally, so it is worth checking the current times when booking. Once you have a ticket, you just show your confirmation on your smartphone to gain entry to the tower. To access the summit terrace, you need to complete a health and safety declaration.

Climbing Torre dell’Orologio Clock Tower

Climbing the tower involves a few steep staircases, which may be challenging for some.

On the way up, you can view models of bells and the workings of the clock. Visitors can learn the history of the clock and tower.

The Torre dell’Orologio overlooks Piazza Maggiore and offers fantastic views of the city. From the top and the balcony on the floor below, you can see the complete Bologna skyline. This also includes panoramic views of the Emilia-Romagna countryside.

As well as viewing the main square, you can see many towers, spires and church domes. You can appreciate why the city has the moniker ‘La Rossa’ with its abundance of red-roofed buildings.

Views From Torre dell’Orologio

There are two viewpoints at Torre dell’Orologio, one on the way up and the other at the top of the tower. These are splendid spots to photograph Bologna from above. The gallery in the palace has views from its windows too.

The view shows how large the Basilica of San Petronio is; it dominates the main town square.

The view of Piazza Maggiore from Torre dell’Orologio is rather special. On my visit, there was an outdoor cinema in the square.

From the tower, you can see across the red city buildings into the nearby hills of the region, including towards San Luca Basilica, where I enjoyed a walk.

Visit Palazzo d’Accursio & Municipal Art Collections

The Palazzo d’Accursio is a lovely building to visit and mooch around. The palace is at the edge of Piazza Maggiore, and the Renaissance building is fantastic to view from the outside.

You can see the palace’s entrance corridor for free; it is rather grand. The sculptures in the foyer were beautiful and large. You can also sit and relax in the courtyard of Palazzo d’Accursio, a good shaded area.

Palazzo d’Accursio is a historic building in Bologna that has served as the town hall since the Middle Ages. They built the palace in several phases between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. The palace is large, covering 15,000 square metres.

The municipal art collections inside the palace offer a lot of variety. For starters, the rooms housing the galleries are decorative. The ceilings in each room were an aspect I really enjoyed while perusing the gallery.

Inside, the decor is fantastic, including the entrance hall. The ticket for the tower also includes the art gallery housed inside the palace. Both are interesting to visit, especially if you enjoy art or good views.

Inside the gallery, many paintings by Italian artists hang on the walls, and interesting furniture also enhances the various rooms.

Is the Torre dell’Orologio Clock Tower Worth Visiting?

The tower is wonderful to see from the piazza below, and the clock tower offers excellent views. Combined with the gallery, the clock tower is well worth visiting and makes for a great way to spend a few hours in Bologna.

After climbing the tower and perusing the gallery, there is a selection of cafes and restaurants nearby. This includes those that you may have seen from the viewpoint. As the clock tower and palace are centrally located, they are near other places of interest too.