Bologna is a surprising and fascinating city, cradle of many musicians and artists. One of these, Lucio Dalla, a famous Italian artist had an indissoluble and extraordinary bond with this city, which can be seen in some of his famous songs.
Born and raised in Bologna, after achieving worldwide fame, he always chose to return home, becoming the ambassador of Bologna all over the world.
Bologna, the lively and ancient city surrounded by arcades, medieval and Renaissance buildings and structures, paid homage to him with a statue that you can find in one of the most well-known squares, called Piazza Cavour. When you come across it, crossing the park, you cannot help but notice the statue of Lucio surrounded by lots of greenery and many cats that keep him company during the day.
You can’t help but stop to observe him, and obviously you can’t help but stop by and take a selfie with Lucio.
He, the multifaceted artist par excellence, was one of the most important artists of the Italian scene, author of melodies that have entered the history of music.
The statue of Lucio, a bronze work by the sculptor Antonello Paladino, sitting on a bench on which he smiles complacently with his inseparable clarinet at his side…”the lovers in Piazza Grande, of their troubles, of their loves I know everything, wrong and not …”. It will be a pleasant discovery to realize that this is precisely the location mentioned in the lyrics of the famous song.
Once again, Galleria Cavour proves to be the setting and crossroads of art, history, and culture in the city, revealing itself, in the stretch that opens onto Via Farini, not only as the home of the most prestigious shops in the city, but as a true point of reference for Bologna, the link between the past and the present.
Another place linked to Lucio Dalla’s life is Piazza de Celestini, a mandatory stop for you who are visiting this incredible evocative city. The famous house- museum of Lucio Dalla can only be visited by reservation. Remember to book in advance, if you don’t, you can truly miss the opportunity due to the countless interested tourists that visit it every day.
A few hundred meters from his residence, exactly in Piazza de Celestini, you can find an installation dedicated to this multifaceted Italian artist. The work is made with a metal net and portrays him intent on playing the sax for his guests, among the seagulls. It is the shadow portrait of Lucio, a sort of plastic graffiti made with a particular metal grid, placed next to the balcony of his studio, on the place of his daily life, as a shared memory of his city.
This somewhat unusual installation was the perfect way for the city of Bologna to honor the soul of Lucio, and this shows how much he was accepted, welcomed, and loved by the citizens.
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