Bologna is a formula: Champions League qualification party for Bologna FC 1909

Words: Davide Bassan

Images: Davide Bassan

I left home in the afternoon to reach the Renato Dall’ara Stadium, where the city parade of the Bologna player’s bus would begin after qualification for the Champions League. So did thousand of other people, who slowly filled the streets.

People of all ages.

Fixed in my mind is still a blind man led by his dog, both wearing Bologna F.C. scarves. Pure joy for me and my Fujifilm.

So the bus arrived, and began to slide through a noisy red-blue tide, heading for its final port: Piazza Maggiore.

My friends and I were in different parts of the city, with the intention of meeting up. Many hours later, when night had already fallen, we accepted that it would not be possible in the midst of all that crazy mess.

©Davide Bassan/ Terrace Edition. Bologna.

So it was me and this army of fans. Under the medieval towers of Bologna, I felt like I was in a fairy tale.

Back to the present day, I think of the words of Luca Carboni, a famous singer from Bologna. One of his most famous songs says: “Bologna is a rule, that you’ve tried to teach me”.

Later in the song the phrase is repeated, but this time he says ‘formula’ instead of ‘rule’. Formula seems more faithful to the meaning of the song to me, because it can have more to do with something magical and mysterious.

Furthermore, Bologna is an exception rather than a rule.

Or an exception that becomes mysteriously a rule for the body and soul of its inhabitants.

The same inhabitants who were celebrating around me something as exceptional as the city itself not long ago. Carboni’s song continues like this: “I never forget it”. Neither the formula, nor that day.

Davide is on Instagram: @bomberbassan

Coventry City: 6 songs

Bromley Buzz

A Gala Affair

Genoa: Grifone is back

Beyond 90 minutes