If you go past the Palazzo dei Banchi from Piazza Maggiore you will enter into this network of ancient streets which used to be the home of the city's craftsmen. The streets still have many of their original names such as Via Clavature to remember the blacksmiths, Via Caprarie for the sheep butchers, and Via Drapperie for the upholsterers. When you visit these streets which were of Roman origin and now contain a market, it is almost like reentering an ancient time which is evoked by the noise of the shoppers who crowd around the fish, fruit, and meat stalls, just as they would have done so long ago in Bologna's city center.

If you are a foodie, then Il Quadrilatero or Mercato di Mezzo as it is also known should not be missed. This ancient food market is nestled in the medieval zone of the town and is one of the best places to shop, eat and sight see. Just off the Piazza Maggiore, you have to navigate through narrow passages that are filled with colorful stalls, specialty food stores, wine shops, cafes and more. You will find the best of the regional produce as well as some fabulous Bolognese cuisine at this place. Check out the pasta shops, cheese shops, fish stalls, cured meats and butcheries. If you want to feel the pulse of the city, this is one place that is always pulsating!

The famous Piazzola market takes place every Friday and Saturday in Parco Montagnola and Piazza Agosto. It is a popular place, which is dusty and noisy, and very colorful. It sells footwear, clothing, cooking equipment, flowers, antiques, and second-hand goods. The market swarms with people from all over the province and it is really a pleasant experience to spend a few hours amongst the crowds looking through piles of shirts, shoes, sheets, and saucepans on the stalls. There are also lots of stall which sell small "works of art" created by young craftsmen, these include silver coins, terracotta, wooden sculptures, and precious wooden objects, etc. This market, which has existed since 1878, has always taken place in Piazza VIII Agosto, where a livestock market already took place in 1251, and it is only going to be in Parco delle Montagnola for a short period before returning to its traditional location.