Urban innovation: Bologna is Italy’s top smart city according to the City Vision Score
October 23, 2025
Bologna has claimed first place among Italian smart cities, according to the City Vision Score, the ranking that analyses nearly 8,000 municipalities across the country.
The ranking was presented in Padua during the sixth edition of the Stati Generali delle Città Intelligenti, an event that brings together local administrations, businesses and professional communities to assess results and open new avenues for urban innovation.
The City Vision Score is based on 30 indicators across six dimensions - smart governance, smart economy, smart environment, smart living, smart mobility, and smart people - with data normalized from institutional sources. The project is promoted by Blum, in collaboration with A2A.
2025 Score: Bologna leads the way
The Score provides a detailed picture of urban development across large and small municipalities. This year’s ranking confirms the focus on the Northeast: Bologna leads, followed by a group of municipalities including Villa Lagarina (TN), Imola (BO), Spormaggiore (TN), Carpi (MO), Badia (BZ), Andalo (TN) and Bagno di Romagna (FC), up to Bressanone (BZ) in fifteenth place.
For the first time, Bologna surpasses Milan, which drops to 39th place. This milestone reflects a competition increasingly driven by results: the Emilia-Romagna capital excels thanks to the combination of a smart economy and sustainable mobility, supported by demand-driven governance, integrated transport modes, and reliable services.
A notable development in the 2025 edition is the growth of Central Italy, while the North–South divide remains significant.
The ranking confirms Bologna as a laboratory of urban innovation and a model for cities that are increasingly connected, sustainable, and people-centered.
