Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca Della Musica
- Violin-Making Shop (Liutaio)
Photos & Highlights
- Go beyond the display cases at the Museum of Music with stories that bring Bologna’s musical past to life
- Step inside a working violin maker’s shop and see how centuries-old craftsmanship still shapes sound today
Select a date
Tour Description
From the quiet streets of the city center to the workbenches of master artisans, the story of Bologna can be told in sound. How did Bologna come to shape centuries of European music? Its impact is immense: the University of Bologna, the oldest in the Western world, was the first to offer programs in music and the arts, and the conservatory was Italy’s first public music school. Composers such as Giovanni Battista Martini, Mozart, and Rossini studied here or walked these streets, leaving a lasting mark. Today, Bologna still hosts cultural and musical institutions that earned it UNESCO City of Music status in 2006. With a local expert at your side, you’ll explore how tradition and innovation coexist from these historical figures to the thriving musical scene of today.
Your journey will take you to the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica, where instruments, portraits, and manuscripts illustrate how Bologna’s music evolved through innovation, patronage, and performance. You will then visit a working violin artisan’s shop, one of the few still open today, where you will witness centuries-old tools and techniques in action. Your guide connects these experiences, from museum highlights to instrument craftsmanship, offering a deeper understanding of Bologna’s living musical traditions.
Choose this tour if…
- You want to understand the city through both its instruments and its stories, whether you’re a seasoned musician or simply curious - no prior musical knowledge is needed
- You want to witness centuries-old craftsmanship in a private workshop normally closed to the publicÂ
- You want guidance in accessing exclusive spots and navigating the city’s musical heritage, whether it’s your first time in Bologna or you’ve visited before.
Experts
You will meet your guide at the Two Towers in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana to begin your journey into Bologna’s musical heritage. From there, you will walk through the historic center to the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica, where your expert guide will show you how Bologna shaped European music: from innovation and virtuosity to censorship and the professionalization of the arts. You will explore manuscripts, instruments, and portraits that will provide insight into the people, places, and institutions that made Bologna a laboratory for sound.
After the museum, you will walk to a local working violin workshop, one of the few still open today that continues to craft instruments using tools and techniques passed down over centuries. Inside, you will assist with a demonstration of the traditional art of violin making, and watching the artisan at work, your guide will help you connect the city’s musical past with its living traditions. This private visit offers an exclusive perspective not accessible to most visitors and the tour concludes at the workshop.
- Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca Della Musica – Bologna’s Music Museum, rich collection of historical instruments, manuscripts, and pivotal portraits.
- Liutaio (Violin-Making Shop) – a local violin workshop that produces and repairs instruments using techniques and tools passed down through centuries
Tickets and Inclusions
You are prepaid for the tour. The ticket costs for the Music Museum are not included. It is your responsibility to have cash in local currency on hand to pay on-site.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Wheelchair accessibility
This tour includes a relative amount of walking and can be adjusted for people with mobility issues. Both the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica, and the Violin Making Shop are accessible.
Can we bring our kids?Â
Absolutely! Families are welcome, and the tour can be enjoyed by guests of all ages.Â
Is the cost of tickets included?Â
No, the ticket costs for the Museum of Music are not included. It is the clients responsibility to have cash in local currency on hand to pay on-site.
Can we shorten the tour?Â
We don’t recommend shortening the tour, as it’s carefully designed with the pace and scheduling in mind to provide a complete introduction to the city. If you have special circumstances, we can discuss possible adjustments with our guides.
Is this tour accessible?Â
This tour includes a relative amount of walking and can be adjusted for people with mobility issues. Both the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica, and the Violin Making Shop are accessible.
Can clients book another tour after this one?Â
Yes, especially if the tour is booked for the morning.
Do we need to be musicians or have particular preparation to take this tour?
Absolutely not, you don’t need any musical training to enjoy this experience. Whether you play or have played an instrument professionally, or simply love learning about music, this tour is designed to be accessible and fascinating to everyone.
Will we need to play or make an instrument at the violin shop?
No. Your visit to the violin artisan is purely observational. You’ll see how instruments are crafted using traditional tools and techniques, and your guide will explain the process and the history behind it, but there is no hands-on activity required. This is a chance to witness centuries-old craftsmanship in action, safely and comfortably.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.Â
Where You'll Start