This apartment is in a great location; about 15 mins walk to Piazza Maggiore along Via San Stefano & Via Farini, both of which are fabulous streets for bars/cafes, restaurants & ice-cream. It's ideally suited for 2 couples and the apartment (and the block it's in) is quiet and feels very safe and secure. Outdoor space is lovely and it was great that we could still make use of it in October - we had breakfast outside every morning. Ottavio had provided coffee pods for the Lavazza machine, as well as basics like sugar, tea, black pepper, salt. In easy reach of the apartment are supermarkets (on Via Farini), cafes and small food shops (fresh pasta, cold meats, cheeses etc).
We ate at Restaurant/Pizzeria Teatro Antico on Via Farini, which is very close to the apartment & we would recommend a visit (great naples-style pizzas). You must have ice-cream from Cremaria San Stefano on Via San Stefano (less than 5 mins walk from the apartment towards Piazza Maggiore), and you must try to local white wine, Pignoletto - it comes as frizzante or still.
Other recommendations for food & drink are: Mercato di Mezzo & Mercato delle Erbe where you can have seafood, fresh pasta, meatballs, sharing meat & cheese platters, focaccia & salads as well as local beers, wine and coffee. Just off Piazza Maggiore on Via Pescherie Vecchie, there are lots of eating options but we tried Simoni for lunch & the local mortadella, salami, porchetta sandwiches were fabulous! They also sell meats & cheeses to take-away. Try Antica Trattoria Spiga for a more 'formal' setting & delicious home-made pastas (on Via Broccaindosso 21). So many great places to eat & drink, you'll be spoiled for choice!
Suggestions for things to do include climbing the Torre degli Asinelli - get your timed ticket from the Welcome Bologna tourist info office on Piazza Maggiore - and walk the 666 porticoes to Santuario della Madonna di San Luca - it's a steep final climb & took us about 1.5 hours from the apartment to get there. For an easier trip, get the 'tourist toy train' from Piazza Maggiore. We loved Bologna in the 3 days we were there, and could easily have stayed for a week or more as there are so many things to do and see!