Bologna is known under many nicknames: la dotta (the learned one) for its cultural value; la rossa (the red one) for the color of the roofs in the historic centre; and la grassa (the fat one) for its cuisine. Bologna’s historic centre is a constellation of shops, galleries, palaces, churches, bars, restaurants and pizzerias. Here you’ll find the oldest university in the Western world – the University of Bologna, founded in 1088; an elegant cityscape with ample porticos; over twenty medieval defensive towers; and numerous churches and sanctuaries.