When I was 18 years old, I got on a plane and went to live overseas as a foreign exchange student. The city I landed in was Bologna, Italy. That year changed my life and set the course for many things.

Last year, I was able to return to Bologna for the first time in 25 years, this time with my wife and two daughters. While I was there, I was also able to put the finishing touches on this audio tour, which tells stories from my own time there, alongside stories from the city’s history, for what I hope it a fun stroll through both our pasts. It includes stories about:

Michelangelo’s lost masterpiece
A well-endowed Sea God
The secret to cooking Italian food
Bolognese and the unknown languages of Italy
The canals that once rivaled Venice
A reckless life at the Roxy Bar
The 1902 murder that made world headlines
Maradona’s last days in Italy
The time Aerosmith came to Bologna

So you find yourself in Italy, or even want to tour the town virtually, check it out here: Bologna Walking Tour: A Guide to its Ancient and Recent History

Some photos of the city. The Piazza Maggiore, San Luca and Neptune photo are courtesy of Bologna Welcome.