Mozart and his father visited Bologna twice. During their first and second Italian journey, they were warmly welcomed in Villa Pallavicini by the Count and his wife. They stayed for three months, soon finding acceptance among the Bolognese artists and scientists. Several musical activities developed. W.A. Mozart passed the difficult exam in the renowned Accademia Filarmonica and was accepted as a new member. Normally, for this honour, one had to be at least 20 years old and the test piece took a few hours. Thanks to Padre Martini, the academy made an exception for Wolfgang, however, who was only 14 year. The authentic sites of this procedure still exist, including the library in which Mozart's father Leopold had waited in during the examination of his son.

Bologna is the capital city of the region Emilia Romagna and was chosen as a European Cultural City in 2000. Art, culture, music are brought together in Bologna, but history, most of all, has formed the architecture of the city. The two towers, for instance, rule over the city, the eleven city gates, that enclose it or Italy's second largest – after Venice – historical Old City with extended vine-laced bowers which connect the old Gothic squares, like “Piazza della Mercanzia” with “Piazza Maggiore” and “Via Farini”. At about 1000 years, the University of Bologna is one of the oldest in Europe. The numerous cafés and restaurants, offering the typical cuisine of the area, make the walk through the city even more enjoyable.