Lucio Dalla is and will forever be one of Bologna’s most beloved figures. Born and raised in the city of Bologna, the singer-songwriter and Bologna were linked by a thin red thread of songs and places that inspired him.
In this article we will tell you which squares, streets and buildings played a key role in his life. Discover an original and unusual Bologna in the footsteps of Lucio Dalla.
House Museum, on Via d’Azeglio
The tour starts from the Bologna house on Via d’Azeglio number 15. On the facade of this elegant 15th-century Bolognese building today is the plaque referring to the Lucio Dalla Foundation. Until a few years ago, one could read the two doorbells with the names “Comm. Domenico Sputo” and “Avvocato Alvaro Tritone.” Both pseudonyms were invented by the artist to fool the curious. This is where the singer-songwriter found inspiration after strolling among the cafes and boutiques, while today it is a museum and a place of pilgrimage for fans. During the visit you can admire the Caruso room, still the headquarters of the record label founded by Lucio Dalla, the stanza delle Colonne, a magnificent living room that expresses the artistic splendor of the Bolognese palaces, and his studio where he received his closest collaborators.
Piazza de’ Celestini
In this square you can see an installation that commemorates Lucio Dalla. If you look up toward the small balcony of his studio, you can see a wire mesh depicting him playing saxophone, surrounded by seagulls.
Piazza Cavour
In Piazza Cavour, at number 2, Lucio Dalla was born, on March 4, 1943, and contrary to what many believe, the “Piazza Grande” of the song is not Piazza Maggiore, but Piazza Cavour. Here in fact is his statue, sitting on a bench, as if enjoying the passage of people.
Square and Basilica of San Domenico
In this refined square, little Lucio Dalla, as a child, would come to play with the other children in the neighborhood. Inside the Basilica, on the other hand, once an adult, he would go to pray.
Via degliOrefici
Bologna’s jazz street, Via degli Orefici, commemorates some of the world’s greatest musicians who have played in the city with a series of white and gold stars along the sidewalk. Of course, Lucio Dalla has his star too, find it among the others!
Jazz certainly played an important role in the life of the singer-songwriter, who learned to play clarinet as a self-taught player in the famous Dr. Dixie Jazz Band, later performing at the Kinki Club, one of the most famous jazz clubs in Bologna.
Renato Dall’Ara Stadium
Lucio Dalla was a great lover of sports, as well as of Bologna. Soccer, in particular, had a special place in his heart and it was not uncommon to meet him in the stands of the Dall’Ara Stadium with a red-and-blue scarf around his neck. To Baggio’s epic feats during his Bologna years, Dalla even dedicated a song, “Baggio Baggio.” The last stop on this tour could therefore only be the stadium.
How about following in Lucio Dalla’s footsteps during your next stay at Hotel Astoria?