The Metropolitan City of Bologna comprises 55 municipalities, 7 unions of municipalities, with 400,000 inhabitants in the Municipality of Bologna and 1 million in the entire metropolitan area, characterised by a deeply rooted and efficient industrial and service fabric, placing it among Europe’s leading areas for development and growth.
The Metropolitan City of Bologna is one of Italy’s most productive areas. The presence of a diverse and innovative entrepreneurial fabric promotes the vitality of the territory, including from an employment perspective.
It boasts one of the highest female employment rates in Italy, a high level of internationalisation, and excellent educational and healthcare services.
The city of Bologna ranks among the top cities in Italy for quality of life, particularly in job opportunities and income, but also for cultural, sporting, healthcare and educational offerings.
The presence of specialized industrial districts and a strong innovation ecosystem, supported by the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, the Bologna Business School and numerous research centres, makes Bologna an ideal place for professional growth.
Bologna is divided into six large administrative districts, each with its own distinctive features and atmosphere. Getting to know them is the first step in understanding which part of the city best fits your lifestyle.
Santo Stefano
The Santo Stefano district includes part of the historic city center and surrounding areas.
The center is the medieval heart of Bologna. Here you’ll find the University, museums, theaters, and a lively cultural and nightlife scene. It is the most international area, frequented by students and professionals who move on foot or by bike.
Ideal for those looking for: urban life, culture, and networking.
Just outside the center lies an elegant, green residential area, including the first Bolognese hills and the Giardini Margherita, the city’s largest park. Characterized by wide green spaces, strong local commerce, and excellent connections to the center, which is only 15 minutes away by bus.
Ideal for those looking for: tranquility, outdoor sports, community life, and prestigious residential areas.
Porto - Saragozza
The Porto-Saragozza district also covers both part of the historic center and surrounding residential areas.
In the center, you’ll find the Cineteca di Bologna, museums, and a vibrant cultural and nightlife scene. Like Santo Stefano, it is popular with students and professionals who prefer to move around by foot or bike.
Ideal for those looking for: urban life, culture, and networking.
Outside the historic center, the district expands into an elegant residential area from Via Saragozza and up to the Sanctuary of San Luca, with many parks and local shops. Nearby is another residential area that hosts, along with local commerce, the Ospedale Maggiore hospital and Bologna’s Renato Dall’Ara stadium.
Ideal for those looking for: authentic Bolognese life, community spirit, and quality residential areas.
San Donato – San Vitale
A dynamic and multicultural district close to the University, with many residential areas, commercial hubs, financial centers, and agricultural zones. It is also home to the Bologna Exhibition Centre and the Sant’Orsola Malpighi hospital complex.
In recent years, new spaces and labs for social innovation have emerged here.
Ideal for those looking for: authentic Bolognese living, community life, and vibrancy.
Navile
The most contemporary face of Bologna.
Here you’ll find new business districts, major urban regeneration projects, and the Bolognina neighborhood, buzzing with transformation and cultural energy. Among the most significant developments is the settlement of the DAMA Technopole.
Ideal for those looking for: innovation, modern services, and a young, international, and evolving environment.
Borgo Panigale – Reno
The western part of the city, home to major companies like Ducati, as well as vast green areas along the Reno river. The Marconi Airport and direct access to Via Emilia are also located here.
Ideal for those looking for: a practical, well-connected district close to industrial and business hubs.
Savena
The southeastern area of Bologna is a well-served residential zone, with green spaces and strong local services. It is appreciated for its quality of life and convenient public transport connections to the city center.
Ideal for those looking for: a family-friendly, relaxed environment with all services within easy reach.
There are 55 municipalities in the metropolitan area across plains, hills, and Apennines — an urban and social fabric where tradition, innovation, and quality of life meet.
The Metropolitan City of Bologna stretches from the Emilian plain and the Po River in the north to the Apennines in the south, covering fertile agricultural lands, hilly areas rich in historic villages and natural landscapes, up to the mountain passes connecting to Tuscany.
Interested in living and working in the Apennines? The Living and Working Help Desk can provide useful information about the area and its opportunities.
The Bolognese Apennines are the ideal location for those seeking to combine quality of life with professional opportunities. Just a few kilometers from the city, in a well-connected area with essential services, it is possible to live in a natural and welcoming environment with affordable housing costs and generous spaces. A territory combining close-knit communities, scenic landscapes, and new opportunities.
Ideal for those looking for a peaceful environment to raise a family, for remote workers seeking ample, connected spaces, for professionals pursuing a balance between activity and well-being, and for businesses interested in settling in a context that values innovation, sustainability, and local communities.
Are you more drawn to the Imola area?
The Imola area is a strategic choice for balancing quality of life and solid professional opportunities. Thanks to a diversified and innovative economic fabric, with excellence in mechanics, agrifood, and healthcare, it offers qualified and growing job prospects. Well connected to Bologna and Romagna, it guarantees high-level services, comprehensive education, and a strongcommunity network, making it particularly suitable for workers, families, and businesses looking for a dynamic and competitive place to establish themselves.
Ideal for those looking for qualified job opportunities in sectors such as mechanics, agrifood, and healthcare; for families who want to live in well-organized towns and cities; and for those who appreciate the closeness of hills, historic centers, and a dynamic, welcoming community.