Bologna, city of knowledge, architecture and culinary traditions

One of the jars in the Nutella® Buongiorno limited edition, created in collaboration with ENIT, is dedicated to Bologna, chosen as one of the cities of art representing Italy's heritage. The design tells the city’s story through several elements that express its identity - Piazza Maggiore and the Due Torri - accompanied by a recipe inspired by the local culinary tradition.

Bologna has a unique urban feature, namely its porticoes, which stretch for almost 40 kilometres and are one of the world’s most recognisable architectural systems, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They originated as private extensions due to medieval population growth and, over time, have become an integral part of the public space, literally defining the way people experience the city.

The best-known symbols of Bologna include the Due Torri (Two Towers), Asinelli and Garisenda, which shape the city’s skyline. Less apparent, however, is how they lean: during construction, the unstable terrain already caused them to tilt, and this is visible today particularly the Garisenda Tower which, over time, has become a distinctive element of Bologna's image.

The city is also home to the oldest university in the western world, founded in 1088, contributing to Bologna’s status as a landmark in European culture. One of the most noteworthy episodes in its history is the time spent there by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who graduated from Bologna’s Accademia Filarmonica at the tender age of 14, marking a significant milestone in his musical education.

On a culinary level, the story is completed by pinza bolognese, a traditional local dessert. Originally prepared in the home, it began as a simple recipe, often reusing leftover ingredients, and was filled with Italian mostarda or jams. Less well-known is its association with festivities; indeed, pinza was often eaten during the Christmas period as a dessert shared by the family, symbolising the cuisine of everyday life. The recipe provided on the jar is reinterpreted using Nutella®, upholding the tradition while adapting it to contemporary tastes.