Bologna is one of the most hospitable and widely visited cities in Italy and owes its rich cultural and artistic heritage to its 2,500 years of history. The city was founded by the Etruscans in the 6th century BC. Two centuries later, it was occupied by the Gallic Boii, who gave it the name Bononia (meaning “good land”), from which the name Bologna derives. Following the Roman conquest in 189 BC, it became the main settlement in the province with an extensive network of communications. In particular, the Via Aemilia – the main road that still passes through Bologna today – facilitated links with other important municipalities in the area.