St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities

05/09/2026

Save this for your next trip to Bologna 🇮🇹

Bologna is one of the best cities in Italy to use as a home base because so many incredible places are reachable by train in under 2 hours.

From food towns like Modena and Parma, to art cities like Florence, Ravenna, and Ferrara, to bucket-list stops like Venice and Milan, you can see a completely different side of Italy without renting a car.

Here are easy train day trips from Bologna:

🚆 Modena — about 20 min
🚆 Ferrara — about 30 min
🚆 Florence — about 40 min
🚆 Parma — about 50 min
🚆 Verona — about 55 min
🚆 Rimini — about 55 min
🚆 Padua — about 1 hr
🚆 Ravenna — about 1 hr 10 min
🚆 Milan — about 1 hr 15 min
🚆 Venice — about 1 hr 30 min

This is why Bologna is such an underrated base for exploring northern Italy. You can eat some of the best food in the country, stay in a less chaotic city, and still take day trips to some of Italy’s most famous destinations.

04/18/2026

Did you know that the St Louis Italian Language Program is partnering with Saint Louis Priory Summer Language Courses for Adults! Tiziana Orsini and Giovanna Leopardi will be teaching intensive in-person Italian beginning and intermediate classes, June 1-5, 2026. You don't want to miss this! Sign up today!

02/06/2026

Are you interested in an incredible tour of Tuscany with a visit to our sister city BOLOGNA this year? Look no further! Reserve your spot today with Vacanze Italiane - Italian Holidays. Email [email protected] or call 225-239-3897

12/24/2025

Our 7th Annual Italian Christmas Concert with Benedetta Orsi at the Old Cathedral - Basilica of St. Louis, King brought the joy of Christmas to our St Louis community. Thanks also to Alla Voskoboynikova, the Clarion Brass Ensemble, and the Crescendo Youth Choir for sharing your talents with us.

Special thanks to World Trade Center St. Louis and Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago for your support

12/19/2025

Yesterday, the Consul General of Italy in Chicago, Hon. Mario Bartoli, met with Michael Cross, President of the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities and members of the Italian Community of St Louis. We thank Hon. Bartoli for his work and that of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago in promoting our Christmas concert this year!

12/04/2025

Did you see us on TV? Italian mezzosoprano and Bologna native Benedetta Orsi and President of the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities, Michael Cross were interviewed on Fox2Now St Louis about our upcoming 7th Annual Italian Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at the Old Cathedral - Basilica of St. Louis, King. Tickets are still available!

Italian mezzosoprano and Bologna native Benedetta Orsi and President of the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities and the Italian Community of St Louis, Michael C...

11/24/2025

We'll be LIVE on Fox2Now tomorrow at 9:30am with Benedetta Orsi, mezzosoprano and Michael Cross to promote our 7th Annual Italian Christmas Concert. Tickets are still available at the following link: https://benedettaorsi.com/event/benedetta-orsi-friends-7th-annual-holiday-concert/

https://youtu.be/R6kNvC5sfZc?si=wnk_Yr4_tTTdtX2b

Internationally acclaimed opera singer and mezzo-soprano Benedetta Orsi sings Italian Christmas songs "Caro Gesù Bambino" and "Tu scendi dalle stelle" on Sun...

11/13/2025

The St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities proudly invites you to our 7th Annual Christmas Concert "Benedetta Orsi & Friends" on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM at the Old Cathedral - Basilica of St. Louis, King. Purchase your tickets by following the link below:

https://benedettaorsi.com/event/benedetta-orsi-friends-7th-annual-holiday-concert/

10/29/2025

Thank you all for coming last night to Tapas Musicali: A Taste of Italy’s Musical Flavors with Chamber Music Society of St. Louis. Another amazing performance by Benedetta Orsi, mezzosoprano from Bologna! We look forward to seeing you all at our 7th Annual Italian Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 6th at the Old Cathedral - Basilica of St. Louis, King!

10/23/2025

We're proud to parter with the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis this coming Monday, for "A Taste of Italy's Musical Flavors" featuring Benedetta Orsi, mezzosoprano, who will present the U.S. premiere of a lovely string quartet and voice arrangement of Donizetti’s Sei Arie by Alessandro Tirotti. Use the code "Italy27" for 50% off tickets to our concert. Purchase your ticket clicking the link below.

https://chambermusicsocietyofstlouis.thundertix.com/events/249216