The modern station was designed and built by architect Gaetano Ratti, who trained in the local Clementine Academy.

Inspired by the neoclassical style, the station's distinctive 15th century façade opens in nine entrance doors.

The original design called for a rectangular shaped, two-faced building, with a marble external façade and a steel internal one.

On 2 August 1980 at 10.25 am, an improvised explosive device (IED) made with 20 kilograms (44 lb) of a TNT mixture was detonated inside Bologna's main railway station.

[9] The wing of the station in which the bomb was detonated has been reconstructed but, as a testimony to the victims of the attack, the original pavement was maintained as well as a deep crack in the main wall.

After 15 years, official investigation has determined that the attack was carried out by a small neo-fascist group, call Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari.

Many conspiracy theories regarding this event have been entertained, including a link between this act of terrorism and the loss of Itavia Flight 870.

[10] The following services call at the station (incomplete): (A for Austria, D for Germany, F for France, GB for Great Britain) The Marconi Express monorail links the station to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, with an intermediate stop at Lazzaretto.