London, Paris and Rome are probably on your list of cities you want to visit. But there are other (not so popular) cities in Europe that are worth visiting.

Definitely, underrated cities have their advantages – there are no crowds, prices are much lower, and historical and cultural sights can be equally interesting for tourists.

The tourist journalist Charael Kohlberg did a little research on which European city is the most underrated by tourists. According to respondents, it is Bologna in Italy.

"Bologna is very promising and is working to become the next Italian attraction for tourists. As the home of Bolognese pasta, this city is a mecca for foodies," said Tom Marchant, owner and founder of luxury travel company Black Tomato.

Bologna has several nicknames - "La Rossa" ("The Red", because of the red tiled roofs), "La Dotta" ("The Learned", because of the University of Bologna, the oldest in Europe) and the most famous nickname - "La Grassa" ("The Fat"). , because of its rich gastronomic offer).

These are the three main reasons why you should visit Bologna.

1. The food is phenomenal

"Bologna has probably the best gastronomic offer in all of Italy," says Jeff Miller, travel blogger at Our Passion for Travel.

Foodies can explore the city's open-air markets and hidden pastificias (pasta shops) and visit restaurants serving local specialties such as pasta bolognese and tortellini.

You can also spend a day at FICO Eataly World, a theme park in Bologna entirely dedicated to Italian cuisine.

It would be interesting to take a one-day excursion to the Emilia-Romagna region, where Italian gastronomy was "born".

2. The architecture rivals other Italian cities

The old part of Bologna is under the protection of UNESCO. There are 24 medieval stone towers, including Bologna's most famous landmark – the Two Towers.

The author of numerous travelogues, Anne-Marie Cahill says the Assinelli Tower climb is a must-see for history buffs. She also suggests a visit to the unfinished Basilica of San Petronio and a tour of the Roman ruins located below the Bologna library.

3. Prices are low

According to Marchant, you can easily walk around Bologna, which will save you a lot of money. If you want to use public transport, a city bus ticket costs 1,30 euros.

Marchant says the locals are friendly and the city is generally safe, making it a pleasant vacation spot.

The average hotel room costs under 200 euros per night.

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