Motorbikes, Bologna, Italy, 1999

1999 – Countless motorbikes have been parked in the Via Rizzoli near the base of the Torre degli Asinelli in Bologna, Italy. Photo © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com

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The story behind the image

Back in 1999 I visited Bologna in Italy for the very first time, and I immediately fell in love with the city.

While we explored the streets I encountered several attractive locations, and situations that are were just typical for Italy. This photo is proof for this. The Via Rizzoli is the ‘High Street’ of Bologna. It has exquisite shops and restaurants. At the corner Via Zamboni you will find Le Due Torri, the most popular towers in Bologna. The taller one – the Torre degli Asinelli – can be visited (reservation required.)

The remarkable change since 1999 is the traffic. Back then the place was buzzing with energy. Motorbikes, cars and delivery services were filling the streets with chaos, noise, and exhaust fumes. Today, the town center is a Zona Traffico Limitato (Z.T.L.), i.e. only vehicles with a permit may enter the area. And the part of the Via Rizzoli shown in the image is even part of an ‘Area Pedonale’, a pedestrian area.

The result? Just very few vehicles can be seen today, and the parking lot for the motorbikes has gone as well. While I totally understand the need for this move – pollution and chaos were overwhelming – I am glad to have experienced Bologna in 1999 with all its chaos and noise.

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The high resolution image

Capture Date	1999
Location	Bologna, Italy
Camera	Canon AE-1 Program
Image Source	Fuji Slide Film
Digital Image Source	EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo
Digital Image File Format	TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB
Edited Image Format	JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB
Edited Image Dimensions	3595 x 6391 Pixels
Copyright	© by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com