35 College Towns That Are Ideal for Retiring Professors and Book Lovers

6. Bologna, Italy – The Culinary and Intellectual Capital of Italy

Bologna, known as "La Dotta" ("The Learned One"), is Italy’s ultimate university town, making it an ideal destination for those who love books, history, and gourmet cuisine. Home to the University of Bologna, the oldest university in the Western world (founded in 1088), this city has been a hub for scholars, writers, and intellectuals for over 900 years. Retirees in Bologna will find themselves surrounded by some of the most beautiful libraries in Europe, including the Archiginnasio, a historic university library with stunning frescoes and centuries-old manuscripts. The city’s numerous bookstores, including Libreria Nanni, one of Italy’s oldest bookshops, make it easy for book lovers to indulge their literary passions. Bologna also hosts the annual Il Librone Book Festival, where authors, publishers, and readers gather to celebrate literature.