26 hectares of lawns, lake and Etruscan traces since 1879
Photo: Comune di Bologna · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Comune di Bologna · source
Why go
It is where Bologna goes to breathe. Proposed by Mayor Carlo Pepoli in 1862 and designed by Ernesto Balbo Bertone di Sambuy, the park opened on 6 July 1879 as the Passeggio Regina Margherita, according to the regional heritage catalogue. It lies along Viale Gozzadini, between Porta Castiglione and Porta Santo Stefano, so it is an easy walk from the centre.
The landscape is made for wandering: wide tree-lined avenues, large lawns, oak groves and a lake with shores of gypsum rock. Among many exotic trees are cedars, bald cypresses and a giant sequoia more than 40 metres tall near the lake. Families come for the playgrounds and sports areas, and in 2026 the park hosted Bologna Sport Day on 27 September.
Highlights
The lake, with shores of gypsum rock, is the scenic heart of the park. Near it rises a giant sequoia more than 40 metres tall, among the exotic trees, cedars and bald cypresses planted across the gardens. The lakeside chalet you see today replaced an older one in 1935, to a design by Melchiorre Bega.
While the park was being laid out, an Etruscan necropolis was discovered in 1876. Today a travertine Etruscan tomb stands on the central lawn, and at the Porta Castiglione entrance you can see a stretch of Roman road paving. They are easy to miss, so look out for them as you cross the park.
Near the Serre Comunali stands a life-size reconstruction of a Villanovan hut, an ancient dwelling of the Bologna area. Italia.it notes that it is used for educational purposes, which makes it a good stop for families exploring the park with children. Look for it on your way to or from the Serre.
The Serre, the park's former municipal greenhouses, were set up to recover an abandoned space and now host co-working, themed film and music evenings and food outlets, according to Italia.it. In 2026 they also held a fair during Bologna Sport Day, the Comune's sports festival in the park.
Practical information
From the official website:
April to September 6:00–24:00; October to March 7:00–18:00, as listed in the Emilia-Romagna regional heritage catalogue.
Public park: the official sources list no admission charge.
Checked on the official sources in November 2026. Hours can change on holidays: check the official website before you go.
Getting there
The park lies along Viale Gozzadini, between Porta Castiglione and Porta Santo Stefano, just outside the historic centre.
TPER city buses serve the edge of the historic centre. Plan your route with TPER's journey planner and buy tickets in TPER's official ROGER app.
Insider tips
From October to March the park closes at 18:00, while from April to September it stays open until midnight, according to the regional heritage catalogue. Plan a winter visit for the middle of the day and keep summer for long evenings by the lake.
Enter from Porta Castiglione to see a stretch of Roman road paving at the gate, then walk to the central lawn for the travertine Etruscan tomb. They are two small details that most visitors walk straight past.
The park has playgrounds, sports areas, a bar and an ice-cream kiosk, and the reconstructed Villanovan hut near the Serre is used for education. It makes an easy half-day for families staying in the centre.
In the centre
Historic-centre restaurants and hotels from the Bologna City Guide, each with its own Holiplanet page.
Historic restaurant
Tortellini in brodo and lasagne verdi since 1909
Discover more →Traditional restaurant
Handmade tortellini and tagliatelle in Bologna since 1948
Discover more →Chef's restaurant
Mario Ferrara's Lucanian-rooted cooking in a 1600s convent
Discover more →Wine bar / osteria
Wine osteria since 1465: bring your own food
Discover more →Hotel
Romantic 3-star hotel in the ancient Quadrilatero
View hotel →Boutique hotel
12th-century building facing San Petronio's Gothic windows
View hotel →Unique stay
Sleep inside a 12th-century tower, sixty metres above Bologna
View hotel →All restaurants on the Bologna map → All hotels on the Bologna map →
Questions
On 6 July 1879, as the Passeggio Regina Margherita, according to the regional heritage catalogue. Mayor Carlo Pepoli had proposed a large public park in 1862; the land purchase was completed in 1874, Ernesto Balbo Bertone di Sambuy designed it, and work began in 1875 under Giuseppe Roda.
The regional heritage catalogue lists April to September from 6:00 to midnight and October to March from 7:00 to 18:00. It is a public park, and the official sources list no admission charge, so you can simply walk in from the ring road.
About 26 hectares, according to both Italia.it and the regional heritage catalogue. Inside are wide tree-lined avenues, large lawns, oak groves, a lake with gypsum-rock shores, playgrounds and sports areas, two schools, a tennis club, a bar and an ice-cream kiosk.
Yes. An Etruscan necropolis was found in 1876 while the park was being built, and a travertine Etruscan tomb stands on the central lawn. Near the Serre there is a reconstructed Villanovan hut, and at the Porta Castiglione entrance a stretch of Roman road paving.
