Bologna Travel Forum

Bologna has some intriguing street names. It also has a Via Malcontenti.
Any idea where these names came from?
I also noticed a Madonna in a niche with a plaque about a fire that had destroyed the street - I think - in Via dell'Inferno.
Maybe that is where it got its name.

In Bologna exicts via dell'inferno but also via Paradiso (Hell and Heaven).
In Florence and Siena there is Via "de" [of] Malcontenti, in Bologna I believe is Malcontenti and this street is refered at one person (not sure) as Malcontenti could be an Italian family name (surname) http://www.pronto.it/elenco/query.php
A particolar name for a street of Bologna is via Senzanome (no-name st.), before it was via Sfregatette *I will not traslate*, it seemes because there were quite a few brothels, because it's so narrow so that women..., becau a doctor living there was a specialist to cure women.
A story says the bishop walked there once and he has been scandalized so the name has been changed in "no name".
Also Via Battibecco it's not what it could be thought speaking italian today... In bologna there are many other streets, via Orefici (goldsmith), via de coltelli (knives)... one street for specific craftsmen, it seem that "battibecco" was a tool, (also today) in Bolognese "bacc" is the tool used from who strikes pebbles and in the middle age Latin "mallet" or "big hammer"is called "bichus".....

there is a book "Le vie di Bologna" of Mario Fanti where a lot of things are written about Bologna and its streets

oh i didn't see Senzanome - what a great story - I wonder if that book is translated - I would really like to read it

inferno is hell isn't it? not fire

Yes, inferno is hell..

Bologna has a long story, it had more then a thousand inhabitants when London was still a village... the first university in the world, it has been in Bologna.

Then things are changed.

Hi Craic...if its of any interest to you this Via del inferno was a Jew ghetto from the 12th century.It was the main artery crossed by a network of alleys and side streets.This area was closed off by two gates the first at the entrance at Via dei Giudei and the second at the entrance to Via Oberdan.
The 15th century synagogue was located at Via del inferno 16,Today marked by a plaque on the current building to mark the spot.

goodness what interesting info - i was fascinated by my 4 hours in Bologna - just really liked the place - must get back there

thanks for taking the time and trouble to tell me this stuff

Once in Florence I stayed in a cheap pensione in Via del Purgatorio.

did you limbo dance while you were here raz?

My personal favourtite is in Marburg: Scheppe Gewissegasse - the crooked conscience road. Unfortunately I never found out where the name came from.

that's a lovely one

hey maybe there is a crooked conscience family name - after all if you can be called malcontenti ....