This impressive palace is located along the "Strada Maggiore", in the eastern part of the city, but still in the center. It takes its name from the noble family Hercolani, that commissioned it in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, and that owned it until 1973 (when they sold it to the Bologna University). So, despite having architectural forms that mimic those of the Renaissance, it belongs rather to the neoclassical period. The visitor can freely admire the imposing double staircase, the sculptures and the paintings that adorn it (including, in the vault, the "Hercules' ascension into heaven"). But other valuable environments (including some rooms with frescoes depicting Chinese scenes, on the first floor) aren't clearly accessible. We didn't, however, asked to visit them; so we don't know if they are closed to the public, or not.

The University of Bologna organizes a guided tour of one of the many buildings in the historic center on the third Saturday of every month. Palazzo Hercolani is full of frescoed rooms used as study rooms or even administrative offices. The boschereccia is wonderful, perhaps the most beautiful in Bologna