Think Italian cuisine, and one dish springs immediately into focus: the popular, irreplaceable Spaghetti Bolognese—a dish that never actually existed. Ragù alla Bolognese, or simply Bolognese sauce, is a meat-based pasta dish that has become a staple of Italian restaurants across the UK and Europe.  

But its roots stem from the heart of Emilia Romagna with Alberto Alvisi, a chef based in Imola near Bologna, credited as the first to christen a meat sauce served with tagliatelle in the 18th century.  As the dish spread in popularity, Spaghetti Bolognese became a common abbreviation outside of Italy for the meat-based pasta dish and is one of the region’s biggest claims to fame despite never actually existing. Head into Bologna city centre, and you won't find the word ‘Spaghetti Bolognese’ anywhere, instead, you'll need to ask for ‘Tagliatelle al Ragù'.

It’s a point former Bologna mayor Virginio Merola has previously been all too keen to share as he aims to shake the stereotype off the charming Italian town.

He previously told Italian radio station RAI: “Spaghetti Bolognese doesn't actually exist; yet, it's famous the world over.

"What we'd prefer the world to know is that Bologna invented tagliatelle, tortellini and lasagna. 

“We did not invent so-called spaghetti Bolognese. Sure, these versions have brought us attention, but in terms of gastronomy, there are a lot better dishes here than that."

It’s a good call that Bologna, the capital of the Emilia Romagna region, is playfully dubbed ‘La Grassa’ meaning ‘the fat one’, brimming with cuisine. 

Bologna's cobbled streets, particularly in its city centre, are packed with restaurants dishing up plates of fresh tortellini, lasagna and ragu. 

And the tasty specialties that can be found in the area aren't just pasta, with Bologna’s cooked cured pork sausage, mortadella, being another staple of the region, 

Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar and markets packed with fresh fruit and vegetables are everywhere. 

However, keen to flavour a taste of history, on my trip I opted for the Tagliatelle al Ragu at one of the city’s most revered retailers, Ristorante Donatello.

I was not disappointed. The Ragu was exceptional with thick chunks of meat served in a flavoursome sauce.

Most importantly, the dish is made with no water or liquid with the sauce holding its consistency from plate to fork. 

For dessert, the tiramisu was one of the best I’ve ever tasted, with a light fluffy texture that left me wanting more. 

Besides the food, Bologna is best known for its series of medieval towers with the Due Torri (two towers) one of its leading attractions. 

The larger Asinelli tower and smaller Garisenda tower were thought to have been constructed between 1109 and 1119 AD.

Both are built at a slight slant and there were recent concerns the Garisensa tower was tilting too far. The city is currently working to prevent the collapse of the tower with a €20million (£17m) restoration project currently underway. 

Nearby is the beautiful Piazza Maggiore, which acts as the tourism centre of the beautiful city. 

In the heart of the Piazza is the Basilica of San Petronio, dedicated to the city’s patron saint. Inside, is the longest sundial in the world built by the astronomer Giovanni Cassini.

Well-known for its music scene, the Music Chapel of San Petronio is the oldest musical institution in the city. The functioning organ built in 1470 by Lorenzo da Prato is now the oldest still in use across the world.

Bologna is well placed, sitting just a two-hour train ride north of Rome and around an hour south of Venice. Florence and Pisa are also in touching distance, making it an ideal base or stop-off during a trip across Italy this summer.