Viewpoint over the Canal

The viewpoint over the canal, in Bologna

The viewpoint over the canal, through a little window of Via Piella, reveals the best-kept secret of Bologna. The Bologna audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this unexpected view over the Canale delle Moline, nicknamed the little Venice of the town.

The little window onto the hidden Venice

Approach the wall on your right: if you see a few people gathered here, it is quite normal. A little window, pierced in the wall of Via Piella, offers a fine glimpse of the Canale delle Moline that flows just behind, invisible from the street. It is one of the most surprising and photographed corners of Bologna. Through this opening, the gaze plunges onto the canal lined with colourful houses whose façades are reflected in the water, a picturesque setting that recalls Venice and that contrasts with the usual image of the town. This viewpoint is one of the rare places where you can still admire in the open air the old canals of Bologna, largely covered over. A small hidden and unusual treasure, the viewpoint over the canal has become a must-see of the discovery of the town.

What to see

Here you discover, through a little window pierced in the wall of Via Piella, an unexpected view over the Canale delle Moline lined with colourful houses reflected in the water, a picturesque setting that recalls Venice, one of the rare places to admire in the open air the hidden canals of Bologna. The viewpoint over the canal is a secret treasure of the town. It is an unusual stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The viewpoint over the canal is on Via Piella, in the heart of Bologna, reachable on foot. It is a window in the wall, freely accessible from the street; the place can be frequented. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What is the viewpoint over the canal in Bologna?

A little window pierced in the wall of Via Piella, which offers an unexpected view over the Canale delle Moline lined with colourful houses, a setting that recalls Venice, one of the rare places to see in the open air the hidden canals of the town.

Where is the viewpoint over the canal in Bologna?

On Via Piella, in the heart of Bologna, in Italy.