Bologna life simulator

Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna, known for its ancient university, brick towers, and rich food. People walk or ride a bicycle, called a biga, under miles of covered porticoes. Daily life centers on historic food markets like the Quadrilatero and evening drinks in outdoor piazzas.

Marco, 22, moves to the Bolognina district north of the main train station to study fine arts. He sets two life goals: make friends in the local art scene and find a part-time cafe job. On his first day, he searches the map for Piazza dell'Unità and walks there to meet neighbors.

In week two, a classmate texts Marco and invites him to an evening bar on Via del Pratello. They talk in a group thread and plan an outing to Mercato delle Erbe on Via Ugo Bassi. Each person in the group remembers the chats from the night before.

In week three, a house party happening appears on the map near Via Zamboni. Marco goes there, meets a neighbor who works at Ducati, and talks in his own words. Each day ends with a recap of its moments, and Marco's friends remember what he said.

Bologna sits at the southern edge of the Po Valley at the foot of the Apennine Mountains. Winters are cold, damp, and grey, with thick morning fog called nebbia and occasional light snow. The real 3D map shows the weather as you walk the streets.

Spring brings mild air and frequent rain showers, while autumn turns crisp and rainy as the university term starts. Residents use the covered walkways, called portici, to walk across the city sheltered from the rain. Summers are hot and humid, and many small neighborhood shops close for holidays in August.

Students gather in the Centro Storico around Via Zamboni, near the University of Bologna and the Academy of Fine Arts. This area has academic buildings, cheap eateries, and student bars around Piazza Verdi and Via Mascarella. Medical students and hospital staff often live in apartment blocks in San Donato and Massarenti near Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi.

Families and established professionals often choose Santo Stefano for its quiet streets and grand apartments. Saragozza sits in the southwest and offers a calm residential life with parks and neighborhood cafes. Newcomers and young families often pick Bolognina across the tracks from Bologna Centrale for its global food markets.

You can search for real landmarks in Bologna and go there on the 3D map. Start at Piazza Maggiore to see the Basilica di San Petronio and the nearby Fontana del Nettuno. Walk east to see Le Due Torri, the two leaning medieval brick towers named Asinelli and Garisenda.

Search for the Archiginnasio di Bologna or the Complesso delle Sette Chiese in Piazza Santo Stefano. You can also plan an outing with friends to the Finestrella di Via Piella to see the canal. For a longer walk, visit the hilltop Santuario della Madonna di San Luca southwest of the center.

Living in Bologna costs more than in southern Italy or small towns, though less than in Milan. A large student body and frequent trade fairs at BolognaFiere keep housing in high demand all year. Homes inside the old gates, like in Santo Stefano, or up in the Colli Bolognesi hills, are the most expensive.

Mid-range housing sits just outside the gates in Saragozza, Costa, Saffi, and San Vitale. Cheaper apartments are further out in Corticella, Savena, Borgo Panigale, or the town of Casalecchio di Reno. LifeSim does not charge rent or pay a salary, and your cash changes with activities and chats.