On August 15th, one in three shops in Bologna opened.
Bologna, August 10, 2025 – Beat The sun on the asphalt. And those not yet under an umbrella on the beach find shelter in the shade of the porticoes. In the days leading up to Ferragosto (August 15th), many of the city's shops have already begun to lower their shutters, while others post signs in their windows announcing the imminent arrival of the holidays: some will stay for a week, but others will return in early September.
Nevertheless While traffic inevitably slows—between those resting and those already packed—the city continues to move, never coming to a complete halt. During the week of August 15th, "30 percent of our members, both in the historic center and the suburbs, will remain open," explains Giancarlo Tonelli , general manager of Confcommercio Ascom Bologna, "thus continuing to guarantee service even in the height of summer. Compared to last year, however, we're seeing a 12 percent decrease for a number of reasons: many businesses affected by the tram construction site, which have already had to deal with a decline in consumption, feel it's appropriate to close in anticipation of traffic that would further decrease during the holiday season. Added to this is the difficulty in recruiting staff, which for many means choosing to let their employees take their holidays during the week of August 15th to rest."
Residents who will be spending this summer under the Two Towers are joined by people arriving from other cities and countries. Despite the heat, "we remind you that the city remains 'open for holidays,'" Tonelli continues. "There's a good influx of tourists, which helps balance consumption, and we're looking to the coming weeks with optimism. Hotels, as per tradition, remain open, and, especially in August, many people are choosing to include our city in their itinerary, even at the last minute." Moving to the Apennines, however, "the shutters remain fully up: the season is progressing well, and there's a good response," he concludes, "between those seeking refuge from the city heat and those taking advantage of the opportunity for excursions and trekking in the mountains."
Along the streets of the historic center, some people stop to browse the shops or stop at a café for a coffee break, while others buy souvenirs to take home as a memento of their recent trip, or even to visit the important museums, such as the Civic Archaeological Museum, which are always open. Compared to previous years, "we notice that the city is never completely deserted," explains Loreno Rossi, general director of Confesercenti Bologna, "and this year, many are choosing to travel elsewhere only on weekends, staying in the city during the week: a trend that could provide additional opportunities for businesses. Added to this are the tourists arriving in Bologna, who seem to be consistently in attendance not only in July, but also in the first half of August."
It doesn't end there. "Regarding the many restaurants remaining open during this period," he continues, "we've noticed that those with outdoor seating and, especially, those with businesses in the hills are working harder. Those without outdoor space, however, are struggling more." Finally, among those who will remain open despite the tram construction, "they will do so primarily to try to recover the losses and drop in sales suffered during the year due to the construction work," Rossi concludes.
İl Resto Del Carlino
