Galleria del Leone - Underground within the Galleria del Leone this first opened as a nightclub in 1954 then changed to a billiards room by the Canè family. Many people including some famous Bolognese personalities used to go here. Waning membership, high rent and health and safety are about to see an end to this old haunt.

Circolo Amici Biliardo Photos

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About Circolo Amici Biliardo

Within the Galleria del Leone and deep underground is a little, almost forgotten about corner of Bologna. The Circolo Amici Biliardo was opened in 1954 as a nightclub but then bought over by the Canè family. They transformed it into a billiards room and for many years people talked about ‘going to the Canè’.

In the past it had been frequented by people from diverse backgrounds: workers, military and religious personnel, pensioners, artists, even famous personalities such as Lucio Dalla, Andrea Mingardi, Diego Abatantuono and Vasco Rossi. Towards the end of the 1970s the club became known as Circolo Arci Amici del Biliardo also maintaining that same camaraderie and smoky atmosphere throughout.

The tall cylindrical bollards are remnants from those early disco days and still cause a slight stir when the coloured lights at the top are turned on.

The club also built up a strong following with students studying nearby at Bologna University.

Today it’s the only billiard room within the old city walls but due to a dip in recent years in membership and visitors here, on top of an ever-creasing rent the days of this club are numbered.

Health and safety experts have recently deemed this place a threat and for the money required to upgrade this old haunt it would appear that the end is only around the corner.