The city of Bologna, Italy is less well-known to foreign travels than the ever-crowded Venice, but it is a popular destination for Italians.

Bologna is the capital and largest city in the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is famous for its cuisine and being home to the Western worldâ??s oldest university. It has a remarkably large and well-preserved historic center.

Here are the top ten must see sites in Bologna.

1. Santo Stefano

The basilica of Santo Stefano sits on a piazza with the same name. It is known locally as the â??Seven Churches,â? because it is made of several interconnected buildings. The basilica is named for the martyred St. Stefano and frescoes depicting his life story cover the walls. Once an angry pope had the roof part of the church removed and the building filled with dirt. 

2. Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita

This church is Bolognaâ??s most important example of Baroque architecture. It was originally built at the end of the 1600s and has been added on to over the years. The sanctuary holds the largest collection of terracotta sculptures made in the Italian Renaissance. 

3. Museo per la Memoria di Ustica

This museum is a memorial for the victims of the 1980 plane crash known in Italy as the Ustica Massacre. After years of speculation and theories, the plane was later determined have been shot down by a missile. The museum includes most of the reconstructed fuselage of the plane and an art installation by Christian Boltanski. 

4. Archiginnasio de Bologna

The Archiginnasio de Bologna is one of the most important buildings in the city. It was originally the main building of University of Bologna, which was founded in 1088 and is the oldest university in continuous operation in the world. It now holds the Archiginnasio Municipal Library, which is the largest library in the region. 

5. Piazza Maggiore

Piazza Maggiore is a square in Bologna that was begun in the 13th century to create a place for a market and make the city seat more prominent. It is surrounded by buildings that were very important to medieval Bologna. 

6. Museum of History

The Museum of History, also known as Palazzo Pepoli, is a relatively new museum dedicated to the history and culture of the city of Bologna. It covers the cityâ??s history from ancient and medieval times all the way to the present. 

7. Towers of the Asinelli and Garisenda

These two towers are considered the symbol of Bologna. They are believed to be named after the families that constructed them during the medieval era. The taller one is Asinelli and the smaller, leaning tower is Garisenda. The towers have experienced a lot of damage over the years, but remain standing today. 

8. Museo Ducati
The famous Ducati motorcycle company has its headquarters in Bologna, Italy. At its factory, it has a transportation museum about the history of its products. The museum contains a collection of 33 Ducati motorcycles that will thrill motorcycle and vehicle enthusiasts.

9. Fontana del Nettuno

This fountain was built in 1566 to beautify the Piazza Maggiore, where it still sits today. Locals refer to it as â??The Giant,â? because it is so large. The bronze fountain depicts the god Neptune and is an early work of Giambologna. Neptune is a symbol of Bologna, Italy. The fountain was originally placed at the intersection of the two main streets of the city. 

10. Santuario de Madonna de San Luca

This basilica dedicated to the Virgin of San Luca is atop a hill just south-west of the historic center of Bologna. Although there has been a church or a chapel on the hill for about a thousand years, the current one was built in 1723. The designer of the building died not long after it was build and later additions were done by his son, using his father's plans.