The best vintage shops in Bologna
Timeless style that brings the best of the past back to life through retro clothing and vinyl
Bologna is unique in its language, too. Beneath the Due Torri, when someone wants to find something nice for very little money, they say they are looking for a ‘bazza’. Anyone with an eye for a bargain can discover genuine treasures on sale across the city’s many street markets, such as the famous Montagnola in Piazza VIII Agosto. Here, alongside bric-a-brac and retro hand-me-downs, you can get your hands on ’80s Levi’s jeans, Prada jackets and Burberry trench coats.
Yet market stalls are not the only place to build a wardrobe of retro clothing. Many shops across town have turned vintage into a way of life, filling their rails with timeless pieces. From high-end boutiques dealing solely in Moschino and Chanel to tailoring workshops restoring deadstock fabrics, the world of reuse is diverse and caters to every taste and budget. Vintage, however, does not stop at fashion. It is a mindset that looks to the past and touches every part of everyday life. Best of all, it guarantees you own one-of-a-kind pieces, sparing you the awkward moment of wearing the same outfit or owning the same lamp as your friends. If you are tired of standard interiors, why not add a characterful Art Deco armchair? A perfect spot to unwind while spinning your favourite album on vinyl.
It is a sensibility that feels right at home in the Emilian capital, a city steeped in art and history. So we have rounded up the best vintage shops in Bologna. Stepping inside feels just like boarding a time machine.
Friperie
Via San Vitale, 49/A
‘Friperie’ is what the French call second-hand clothes shops. It is a name that hints at the sophistication with which Elisa and Cecilia, the two owners, cater to anyone looking for a unique piece. Different styles meet in their boutique, from the ’40s to the ’90s, reinterpreted with a contemporary eye and close attention to the latest trends. When you go to try something on, you will find a vintage lift converted into a fitting room. Shopping here is an insurance policy for your wardrobe: you can be sure you will never bump into anyone wearing the same dress.
Fratelli Broche
Via San Vitale, 54/D
A goldmine for vintage lovers. Alongside more accessible, pop-inspired items in the shop, Fratelli Broche have created an atelier-museum housing genuine treasures, from fine jewellery to high-fashion labels such as Moschino, Prada and Chanel. Each item is hand-picked by the owners, who can charm you with the story behind every piece. The brothers are also contemporary theatre performers, and the boutique hires out garments and props for film sets and fashion shoots. Lights, camera, action.
Dodidì Vintage
Via Andrea Costa, 119/C
‘Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress‘, as Coco Chanel once said. And so does Donatella, known as Dodì, who adopted the aphorism as the motto of her boutique. Even the decor here is made from salvaged fittings sourced from historic Bolognese shops, while the rails are filled with vintage outfits. At Dodidì, you can also sell items you no longer wear, as well as revamp your wardrobe with clothes from bygone eras. They can even be tailored to measure thanks to in-house seamstresses. What more could you ask for?
Freak Andò
Via delle Moline, 14/c
The name says it all. ‘Freak andò’ is a Bolognese neologism, an untranslatable local phrase used for a jumble of objects with no obvious order—a bit of everything gathered together by chance. Owner Maurizio Marzadori calls himself a ‘modernaut’, an art collector passionate about 20th-century antiques. Over more than 30 years spent scouring flea markets and auctions, he has amassed enough treasures to fill a museum. Alongside admiring the collections, you can shop for unique home decor, from handsome Biedermeier sofas to Art Deco sideboards. ‘The best and worst of everything’, as his website puts it. A true freak andò.
Delta-Bo Project
Via Riva di Reno, 79/B
In what was once a salt warehouse on the banks of the Reno river, Davide Deserti has established a mausoleum of mid-century design. The sloping entrance leads straight into a space where objects seem to come alive, amid coffee tables, lamps and armchairs gathered from flea markets across Europe. It is easy to lose all track of time wandering through the rooms on a journey into the past. Every piece is curated with care and flair, offering plenty of inspiration for your own living room. After all, isn’t that the real magic of vintage?
Disco d’Oro
Via Galliera, 23
Music holds perhaps the most romantic place in the vintage universe. While clothing from past decades regularly comes back into fashion and furnishing a home with Deco furniture is nothing out of the ordinary, vinyl can seem like alien technology to younger generations raised on downloads and streaming. Listening to your favourite artist on a turntable, however, still captivates dreamers who, in Bologna, have a steadfast haven in Disco d’oro. Open for more than 40 years, the shop has preserved the timeless charm of the needle, pairing classic albums and second-hand records with live DJ sets. It is a musical institution frequented over the years by Red Ronnie, Gaznevada and Skiantos. And let’s be honest: listening to music on vinyl is in a league of its own.
