Museo della Storia di Bologna (Palazzo Pepoli)

The Museo della Storia di Bologna is in Palazzo Pepoli, at Via Castiglione 8, in the historic centre of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. The palace was built from the 13th century for the Pepoli family, one of the leading families of medieval Bologna, and later enlarged, with an imposing courtyard, a tower and decorated halls. After restoration led by the Genus Bonomiae foundation, it opened in 2012 as a museum of the city's history. The aim is to present the story of Bologna from its Etruscan origins to the present in a single narrative, using multimedia rather than a conventional collection of objects. The route is organised in a sequence of thematic rooms and uses film projections, reconstructions, audiovisual installations and a few original artefacts, covering the Etruscan and Roman city, the medieval commune and university, the papal period, the Risorgimento, the Resistance and the postwar years. A distinctive technique is the use of immersive environments, such as the room dedicated to the university with projected students, or the display of the medieval towers. The museum also includes a section on Bologna's reputation for food, the arcades and the waterways, and allows visitors to follow stories of local inhabitants. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, and the palace itself has frescoed halls, notably the Hall of Hercules, whose architecture has been preserved in the restoration. Restoration of the palace was extensive, combining original structures with contemporary installations. Admission is about EUR 13, with discounts and combined tickets, and the museum is generally open Tuesday to Sunday with later hours at weekends, although times should be confirmed on the museum website. It is a useful first stop for visitors who want an overview of local history, and the use of audiovisual material makes it accessible to those without a background in Italian history.