Hello travel lovers! Today we will talk about one of the beautiful cities of Emilia-Romagna, which turned out to be “enchanted” for us. A city we've passed through 4 times and never left. On this trip we decided to “break the spell” and live in it for at least a couple of days. Now we have looked at all the sights of Bologna and want to tell you about them.
So, Bologna is a city in northern Italy, the Emilia-Romagna region. The area is comparable to our Kaluga (170.5 km²) and the state of Liechtenstein (160 km²). The area of Bologna is 140.73 km², but to be honest, it’s hard to call it a town. Everything here is so grandiose.
Bologna is a city of arches, covered galleries that protect you from the hot Italian sun, towers and majestic buildings. It is worth planning 2 days to explore the city. For a more detailed one (with visiting museums, galleries, studying frescoes) 3-4 days.
It is worth considering that in Bologna there are many restaurants and restaurants with very tasty national cuisine.
Walking along its streets and squares, you have to lift your head all the time - the Italians built the buildings of this city on such a large scale and generously. Not only the towers and cathedrals, but also the houses of the nobility, which the center of Bologna is proud of, amaze the imagination and do not fit into the lens.
Scope
Every time, setting up her Canon for the next shot, Galya grumbled: “Well, who builds like that.” The people of Bologna had no idea that just 400 years later we would be taking unimaginable poses and twisting our cameras to take a normal photo of a building.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Bologna still retained the appearance of a medieval city.
Now Bologna is a major industrial center and the main transport hub of northern Italy.
On our trip to Italy, we stopped in and from there we went to Venice and, each time making a change in Bologna. Why didn't you go out and walk around the city? We listened to our friends who said very confidently: “Bologna? What should we do there? Dusty industrial city."
Yes, the city is not small, but there is something to do. And, of course, there is something to watch. You just need to go straight to the city center. Where the old squares, cathedrals and the very first university in Europe are located.
Having been to Italy 3 times, I doubt whether there is at least one city in this country that has nothing to see.
Story
Bologna was founded by the Etruscans around 510 BC and was then called Felsina.
In the 4th century BC it was captured by the Boii tribe. It was then that the city received a name similar to its modern one - Bonnonia - after the name of the tribe.
The rise of the Roman Empire brought prosperity to the city. The small, conveniently located Roman colony grew and developed, becoming one of the richest cities in Italy by the Middle Ages.
Piazza Nettuno in Bologna. Early 20th century
A lot of interesting things happened here in the Middle Ages:
- The Church of St. Stephen was rebuilt
- The city was given over to the Lombard king Luitprand
- Charlemagne made Bologna a free city. Since then, the word “libertas” (freedom) has been on the coat of arms.
- Having received the status of a free city, Bologna began to actively develop.
- The first European university, Studio, was founded here.
- By the middle of the 13th century, a law abolishing serfdom was passed. (!)
- The entire 15th century of the city's history was marked by an internal struggle for power.
- The 17th century brought the city fame as the intellectual center of Europe.
University. Entrance of one of the faculties
One of the university's internal gardens
Young people from all over Europe came here to study at the University of Bologna. N. Copernicus was among them.
N. Copernicus studied here
The University of Bologna had one interesting feature. The teaching staff was chosen by the students themselves, or rather by members of the student corporation. They could even fire an objectionable teacher.
By 1881, as Bologna's importance as a railway junction grew, a plan for the development of the city was drawn up and signed. Then part of the walls was destroyed and new streets were cut. We now propose to take a walk along them.
Walking around Bologna
Let's start from the center.
- The heart of Bologna is considered to be two adjacent squares - Piazza Nettuno or Neptune Square and Piazza Maggiore.
- Piazza Nettuno is easy to recognize - since the 16th century, there has been the Fountain of Neptune, the creation of Giambologna.
There are also two majestic buildings here:
- Palazzo di Re Enzo - Gothic style palace
- Palazzo del Podestà (Palazzo del Podestà), a building reconstructed towards the end of the 15th century in the Renaissance style.
Piazza Maggiore is famous for its size and the buildings surrounding it. It is on these squares that the facades of the city's most famous palazzos face.
In Piazza Maggiore or Great Square are:
- Palazzo dei Notai, built for the Society of Notaries by 1411
- Palazzo dei Banchi. This palace was built for the city's banks by 1412.
- Also overlooking the Great Square is the façade of the Basilica of St. Petronius.
Basilica of St. Petronius
- Pay attention to the decor of the doors. External bas-reliefs telling the story of the creation of the world are the work of the master Jacopo della Quercia.
Bas-reliefs above the entrance
- The pride and value of the interior decoration of the basilica are the perfectly preserved frescoes of Giovanni da Modena and the works of Giulio Romano.
The building is majestic, large inside, richly decorated, with two beautiful (sounding) organs. We listened to a “random” concert - the organist came in the afternoon. Either I was rehearsing, or I don’t know what I was doing, but from time to time I stood up and waved my hand to my acquaintances.
Basilica of St. Petronius. View from the observation deck
So, the Basilica of St. Petronius is often called the Dome (Cathedral) Cathedral. However, it is not. The main cathedral of the city is St. Peter's Basilica (San Pietro). We'll tell you more about it later.
Petronius was the bishop of Bologna in the 5th century. After his death he was canonized. Saint Petronius is the patron saint of Bologna.
Interesting and paradoxical facts about basil:
- The building was built with the money of the townspeople and, unlike other religious buildings, was not a church project. This is a symbol of communal power.
- Services and coronations took place in the basilica, and worthy people of the city were buried here. Only in 1929 the cathedral officially became part of the church.
- The consecration of the temple took place in 1954 (!)
- In 2000, the remains of St. Petronius were buried in the cathedral.
This is not the only paradox of Bologna; there is another interesting story associated with the Palazzo Communale. But for now let's return to the Basilica of St. Petronius.
The temple has 11 chapels, decorated with stained glass windows, sculptures, and frescoes. In one of the chapels of the temple there are frescoes by Giovanni da Modena (Heaven and Hell, The Wanderings of the Magi).
- In addition to its size and rich decoration, inside the cathedral there is a very accurate sundial (meridian).
This is the longest meridian existing in the world. The great medieval astronomer Giovanni Domenico Casini, a resident of Bologna and teacher at the University of Bologna, created the clock in 1665. They are called the “meridian of Giovanni Cassini”.
One of the parts of the meridian
The Cassini Meridian sundial is an arc drawn into the floor slabs of the cathedral. Its length is 66.8 m -1/600000 of the earth's meridian. Zodiac signs are depicted in different parts of it.
If you lift your head up, you can see a hole in the ceiling. As far as I understand, this hole is the whole trick. Apparently a ray of sunlight hits it and falls on the meridian, pointing to the month.
While we were listening to the organ concert, various tour groups entered the cathedral. They were brought to the meridian and told approximately what I told you. But I still haven’t figured out how this ultra-precise watch works. The cathedral has large windows and the beam is lost in the light. Maybe the hole was covered with colored glass, then this beam was visible?
Who knows, write in the comments - we will be grateful.
Entrance to the temple is free, for the opportunity to take photographs inside there is a fee of 2 euros.
- And finally, the facade of the grandiose Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo Comunale) overlooks the side common to the two squares.
This building, built in 1290, was reconstructed by 1425 and looks less like a palace and more like a mighty fortification.
The entrance to the palace is decorated with columns and a balcony. On the pedestal is a sculpture of Pope Gregory XIII blessing the city. Above him is a stone slab with the words carved on it: “Divus Petronius Protector et Pater.” Translation: "Divine Petronius Father and Protector." This is another interesting history of the city associated with Napoleon.
1796 Bologna is captured by Napoleon's troops. By personal order of the commander, the soldiers smash and destroy all sculptures and images of popes. Then the city residents find a clever way to save the sculpture of Pope Gregory XIII (it was he who decided to raise the status of Bologna in 1582). They hire a sculptor who turns Pope Gregory into the city's patron saint, Bishop St. Petronius. Instead of the papal tiara, an episcopal miter appears on the head of the sculpture, and a staff is in the hand.
So that no doubts arise, they remove the slab with the name, and above the sculpture they place a marble plaque with the inscription “Divine Petronius Father and Protector.” Thus Gregory XIII was “saved.” The French army left the city, but the sculpture was not changed for another 100 years.
In 1895, Petronius again became Gregory. But the residents of the city left a marble plaque in memory of this incident. So read and smile - there is no mistake here)
There are sculptures on the facade of the building. The eagle sculpture is believed to be the work of Michelangelo.
Courtyard of the Palazzo Communale
- Here, nearby, is the city's Cathedral. Cathedral of San Pietro.
The first mentions of it date back to the 10th century. Over its long life, the building of the main cathedral changed its appearance several times - fires and earthquakes destroyed it. It appeared in both Romanesque and Gothic styles. It was completed and rebuilt, decorating everything with new architectural details and buildings.
The height of the central nave is comparable to the height of the central nave of the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica. The interior of the cathedral is presented in the Baroque style. The greatest Italian masters worked on it.
The cathedral is active. Services are held there.
- From an artistic point of view, the Basilica of San Domenico is also of great value.
Here is the tomb of St. Dominic, as well as sculptures by Michelangelo and Niccolò Pisano.
In general, there are a lot of churches in the city. There is even a complex of seven churches - this is the name of St. Stephen's Basilica.
The basilica is located on St. Stefano (Basilica di Santo Stefano). According to legend, there used to be a temple of Isis here. The temples of the complex were erected in the Middle Ages.
According to the idea of St. Petronius (Bishop of Bologna) basilica was supposed to repeat the elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. There are several temples inside the basilica:
- Church of the Holy Crucifixion (another name is the Church of St. John the Baptist)
- Church of the Holy Sepulcher - the oldest of the temples in the complex
- Church of Saints Vitaly and Agricola
- Martyrium
We won't be able to see the rest of the buildings now. This is a consequence of unsuccessful reconstructions.
Another religious building, the Church of the Madonna of St. Luke, is located 5 km from the city center on a 300-meter hill.
This building was built as a special repository for the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria, which, according to legend, was painted by the Apostle Luke.
Well, the last basilica we want to talk about is the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi.
This is far from the largest basilica in Bologna, but it is very interesting. Inside it there is a marble altar by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, frescoes from the 14th century and one of the best organs in Europe.
Towers
Bologna was once called the “city of 100 towers”. There were even more towers - 180. The city was surrounded by a wall. And you could enter it through 12 gates.
Wars, earthquakes, and simply time have taken their toll - only about 20 towers have survived to this day.
One of them was visible from our balcony.
View from our window
Researchers suggest that wealthy families began to erect towers during the conflict between the church and secular authorities. Each such structure represents a bastion in which a family could live and house its soldier-defenders.
Whatever the protective functions of these tall fortresses, over time, in medieval Bologna, almost a “sport” appeared - which family had the tallest tower. So they measured their towers. The remaining structures can serve as an illustration of human vanity.
Each tower has its own name. Sometimes it is just the “Clock Tower”, and sometimes the names of the towers contain the surnames of their owners.
The architectural dominant of the city and a tourist attraction are the two leaning towers on the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana.
These are the famous leaning towers of Asinelli and Garisenda. Built at the beginning of the 12th century without the necessary technologies, the towers continue to fall to this day. What about Pisa!
- Asinelli height 97 m
- Height of Garisenda 48 m
Asinelli is the tallest leaning tower in the world.
Guess what's in the tower today? Of course - an observation deck. Old wooden steps lead to the very top, from where a wonderful panorama of the city opens up. From there, from above, it becomes clear why Bologna was called red.
- The observation deck is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer.
- From 9 to 17 in winter.
- Entrance fee is 3 euros.
Art
Among other things, Bologna is famous for its museums. There are many of them here. Let's name a few.
The National Pinakothek will delight you with the works of local masters of the 13th-17th centuries, for example Francesco Parmigianino, Masaccio.
The International Music Museum and Library houses a huge collection of portraits of great composers, musical instruments, various manuscripts and documents.
At the State Archaeological Museum you will learn about the city's past.
As you can see, there are many attractions here. Therefore, sightseeing bus tours are especially popular; they will introduce you to the most important places in Bologna in a short time. These buses are convenient for those who want to visit the Church of the Madonna of St. Luke.
We didn’t use buses in Bologna and preferred to walk. But in and Potsdam we traveled on such buses. A convenient option for exploring the big city.
Festivals
The soup festival has become an interesting tradition. It is held every year on April 25th and everyone is welcome to take part. Even tourists. All you need to do is take a 10-liter saucepan with you on your trip. If the jury and the audience like your soup, you will receive a golden ladle.
On a more serious note – a film festival. Held in the summer in five cinema halls and Piazza Maggiore. Pictures from all over the world can take part in it.
We found an Italian film festival. The cinema hall looked like this:
Anyone can watch the films.
How to get there
- by plane
Bologna has its own Guglielmo Marconi Airport. From Rome, planes fly here three times a day.
- by train
Trains depart from Rome Termini Station to Bologna. This trip will take a little over 4 hours.
In addition, you can travel by train from Venice, Florence, and other cities.
- by bus
Buses leave from Rome's Tiburtina station. So you will spend 6 hours on the road.
Bologna on the map
Thank you for subscribing to our blog. And goodbye!
Sincerely, Alla Sutyagina
Basilica of San Petronio - La Basilica Di San Petronio. Located on the square Piazza Maggiore This Gothic basilica, the fifth tallest in the world, was begun in 1390 and is still not formally completed to this day. Upon learning that the building was supposed to be larger than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Pope Pius IV stopped construction... Inside the cathedral - relics of Saint Petronius, patron saint of the city and unique 15th-century fresco depicting a scene from Dante, where the Prophet Muhammad was thrown into hell. In 2002, Islamic terrorists wanted to blow up the building and destroy the fresco, but the attack was prevented. Now there are metal detectors and security guards in front of the entrance to the cathedral. Also inside - meridional line of the sundial, which stretches 67 meters - the longest in the world, and burial of Napoleon I's sister, Eliza Bonaparte. The interior of the basilica can accommodate about 28 thousand people!
The initiator of the construction of a new large temple for the growing city in 1390 was the Council of Six Hundred, that is, the city authorities. To clear the place for the construction of the cathedral, it was necessary to demolish the towers, personal buildings of the townspeople and eight small churches. Construction began already in 1390, the city entrusted the project to the architect Antonio Di Vincenzo. The plan of the three-nave basilica contains a Latin cross. Gothic vaults rest on ten pilasters with high capitals. The space is divided horizontally by side chapels.
After the completion of work on the facade, in 1393, the creation of the side chapels began, completed in 1479. Most of the chapels (22 of them) were decorated in the 15th-16th centuries. In 1514, Arduino Degli Arriguzzi proposed a new plan for the church - according to his idea, it should have the shape of a Latin cross at the base, in order to surpass St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It was to become one of the greatest churches, measuring 208 meters in length and 142 meters in diameter. However, after the intervention of Pope Pius IV - and Bologna was part of the Papal State at that time - the size of the cathedral was reduced. In 1538, the cladding of the walls and then the facade began according to the design of Domenico Varignana. His façade project caused a lot of controversy; many famous architects submitted their drawings to the competition (these drawings are now kept in the temple museum). The lower part of the facade is made of red Verona marble and white Istrian stone. The upper part of the façade was not covered.
Nowadays the length of the basilica exceeds 130 meters, the height of the vaults is 45 meters. San Petronio is not a cathedral, although it is often called the main church of the city due to its great significance. Currently, the cathedral bears the title of “small basilica” (Basilica Minor). Among the Catholic churches that have survived to this day, the cathedral ranks 15th in size and fifth in height.
Decorative work in the central part of the basilica was carried out under the direction of Girolamo Reynaldi in 1646 -1658. But they were interrupted in 1659 and were not completed. But work on the design of the building’s façade continued until the creation of new side portals designed by the architect Jacopo Della Quercia. However, then they too were stopped. Despite the involvement of several famous architects, including Baldassare Peruzzi, Andrea Palladio, Giacomo Barozzi Da Vignola, the façade of the building is still not finished. Construction was interrupted in 1759.
The external decorations are also made in the Gothic style, mainly by Giovanni Da Modena, as well as by the masters Parmigianino, Giulio Romano and Masaccio.
At the beginning of the 15th century (1426 - 1438), Jacopo Della Quercia decorated the main entrance (portal) to the cathedral with sculptures, and two small side doors with images based on the Old Testament motif (naked Adam and other figures placed on a rectangular bas-relief, including a sculptural group representing the Virgin and Child, Saint Petronius and Saint Ambrose). Michelangelo called Our Lady of the Della Quercia portal “the most beautiful Our Lady of the 15th century.” It is believed that it was the reliefs of Della Quercia in Bologna that marked the beginning of the Renaissance in the art of sculpture.
The side portals were made in 1524 - 1530 according to the design of Ercole Saccadenari. Many other artists took part in the design of the side portals, including Tribolo and Alfonso Lombardi. Windows open in the side facades, illuminating the chapels. Among them is the Chapel of St. Abbondio, restored in the Gothic style in 1865 (it was here that the coronation of Charles V took place in 1530. Charles V was crowned there to rule the Holy Roman Empire, and his coronation to rule Italy took place in the Palazzo Comunale); Chapel of St. Petronius, where in 2000 the relics of St. Petronius, patron of the city and rector of the cathedral in the 5th century, were moved from the Cathedral of Santo Stefano); the oldest chapel of the Madonna of Peace with a sculpture of Our Lady, made in 1394; the Magi Chapel with a wooden triptych altar with 27 figures carved from wood and painted by Jacopo Di Paolo, as well as stunning wall paintings; and other chapels of noble families of the city with rich altars and sculptures. Napoleon I's sister, Elisa Bonaparte, is buried in the Basilica of San Petronio.
To the right (above the 11th chapel) rises the bell tower (built 1481 - 1495). According to Bolognese tradition, there are 4 bells on it. The cathedral crypt contains one of the oldest known "triumphal cross groups" - it was created between 1160 and 1180. Notable are the amazing wooden choirs created in the 15th century by Agostino De Marchi, and the monstrance is the creation of Jacopo Barozzi Da Vignola. The canopy over the main altar was made in 1547 by the master Giacomo Barozzi.
In the 17th century, the Basilica of San Petronio was widely known for the instrumental and choral music that was performed within its walls. There are still two separately installed organs there (epistolary organ F-a 3 and evangelical organ C-c 4). One of the two organs of the cathedral, created in Tuscany in the second half of the 15th century, is considered the oldest in the country (he is on the right). It was created in 1475 by the master Lorenzo Di Giacomo from Prato. The organ on the left dates back to the 16th century. He is the work of Malamini (1596). Both organs have survived to this day in their original condition.
The cathedral of paintings houses such paintings as “The Mystical Wedding of St. Catherine” by Filippino Lippi, “The Consecration of Christ with Four Saints” and “Pieta” by Amico Aspertini, as well as works by Giovanni Da Modena (early 15th century, “The Last Judgment”, “ Episodes from the Life of Saint Petronius", "The Way of the Magi", fourth chapel). Also interesting are the works of Giulio Romano, Parmigianino (1527, “Saint Roch,” eighth chapel), Lorenzo Costa (1492, “Our Lady Enthroned,” seventh chapel) and Vignola.
The basilica served as a workroom in the 1660s for the famous medieval astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini. In 1665, according to his calculations, the “meridian of Giovanni Cassini”, the meridional line of a sundial, 66.8 meters long, was installed here in the left side aisle. Due to the height of the basilica, the scientist’s measurements were amazingly accurate for his time. The meridian, rather, is not a clock, but a solar calendar - when sunlight falls on the meridian through a small hole in the roof of the basilica, the beam indicates the month and day.
The Basilica of St. Petronius has long been a communal property and was used for a variety of purposes: as a place for ceremonial events, for court sessions, for public meetings. Only in 1929, as a result of the Lateran Agreements, the cathedral became the property of the diocese. The solemn “final” consecration of the cathedral took place only in 1954.
In 2002, five men were arrested for planning a terrorist attack on the cathedral. And in 2006, the Italian police again managed to prevent a tragedy - then Muslim terrorists who wanted to destroy the basilica were captured because, in their opinion, the fresco inside insulted Islam. This fresco by Giovanni da Modena depicts a scene from Dante's Inferno where Muhammad is tormented by demons.
The cathedral is open to the public from 7.45 to 13.30 and from 15.00 to 18.00. Opening hours: from 7:30 to 18:45 from Monday to Friday and from 8:00 to 18:45 on weekends. The Treasury is open on Sundays from 15:30 to 17:30, admission is free. However, for security reasons, access can be stopped at any time - the basilica is guarded quite seriously.
Address: Piazza Maggiore, 40124 Bologna
www.basilicadisanpetronio.it
Opening hours: daily 7.45 -13.15 and 15.00-18.30. During the
religious services, the tourist visit could be limited or suspended. During the service, entry to tourists may be limited or closed.
Panoramic terrace: daily 10 - 20. Opening hours may vary depending on events.
Entrance to the terrace € 3.00, free for children under 12 years old. Entrance to the terrace is maximum 25 people at a time, the visit lasts about 30 minutes.
Entrance to the basilica is free.
Entry into the church with backpacks is prohibited, and there are no luggage storage facilities.
Map
Complesso di Santo Stefano
Also known as the "Seven Churches", the Basilica of St. Stephen's is one of the most remarkable church complexes in Bologna, serving as both a church and the cradle of the faith of the fathers.
Address: Via S. Stefano, 24 - 40125 Bologna
Website: www.abbaziasantostefano.it
Opening hours: weekdays: 9.00 - 12.30 and 15.30 - 18.30; holidays and weekends: 9.00 - 13.00 and 15.30 - 19.00
7 p.m. During the service, entry to tourists may be limited or closed.
Free admission.
Map
Sanctuary San Luca
Address: Via di S. Luca 36, 40135 Bologna
e-mail: , Web site: www.sanlucabo.org
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6.30 - 17.00 from November to February and 6.30 -19.00 from March to October. Closed on weekdays from 12.30 - 14.30. Sundays and holidays: 7 - 17 from November to February and 7 - 19 from March to October. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Basilica of San Domenico
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 9.30 - 12.30 and 15.30 - 18.30; Sat and Sun 9.30 - 12.30 and 15.30 - 17.30. Entry may be limited or closed during service.
Free admission.
Map
Basilica San Francesco
Address: Piazza S. Francesco, 40122 Bologna
Opening hours: daily 6.30 - 12.00 and 15.00 - 19.00. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
The church is temporarily closed, except for the Muzzarelli Chapel.
Free admission.
Map
Church of Santa Maria dei Servi
Address: Strada Maggiore, 43, Bologna
Opening hours: daily 7.00 - 12.00 and 16.00 - 20.00. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Church of Santa Maria della Vita
Address: Via Clavature, 10 - 40124 Bologna
Opening hours: Sanctuary and Compianto: Mon - Sat 10.00 - 17.00; Sunday and holidays 16.3019.00. Free admission.
Map
Basilica San Giacomo Maggiore
Opening hours: church - Mon - Fri - 7.30 - 12.30 and 15.30 - 18.30; weekends and holidays - 8.30 - 12.30 and 15.30 - 18.30. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Church of San Michele in Bosco
Address: Piazzale S. Michele in Bosco, 40136 Bologna Web site: www.genusbononiae.it
Opening hours: church: daily 9.00 - 12.00 and 16.00 - 19.00. Library: Mon and Tue 9.30 - 17.30; Wed, Thu and Fri 9.30 - 15.00; Sat 9.00 - 13.00.
The entrance is free.
Map
Corpus Domini o Chiesa della Santa
Address: Via Tagliapietre 19, 40123 Bologna
e-mail: Website: www.clarissesantacaterinadevigri.it
Opening hours: Sanctuary - daily 9.30 - 12.00 and 15.30 - 18.00. Holy Chapel -
Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun 10.00 - 11.30 and 16.00 - 17.45. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Church of Santa Maria della Pioggia
The church, located at the intersection of Galliera road and Riva di Reno, has been recently restored inside and out. The external frescoes were restored by the Pii Educational Institute, the current owner of the church.
Address: Via Riva Reno 124 (corner Via Avesella), 40121 Bologna
Opening hours: Tue - Sun 9.15 - 12.00 and 16 - 18; Sun and holidays 10.00 - 12.00. Closed: Monday. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
www.bologna.chiesacattolica.it
Free admission.
Map
Chiesa di San Martino
Since the 13th century, the Church of San Martino has been the cradle of the Carmelite Order of Bologna. The church was built in the first half of the 14th century. The brick vaults were made in 1457 and the new façade at the end of the 15th century (it was redone in Gothic style in 1879). The interior of the church - spacious and elegant - is enlivened by a beautiful Renaissance chapel of the aristocrats, where some precious paintings are kept.
Address: Via Oberdan, 25, 40126 Bologna
Opening hours: Mon - Sat 8.00 - 12.00 and 16.00pm - 19.00; Sun and holidays 9.00 -13.00 and 16.00 - 19.30. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Chiesa di SS. Salvatore
Church of St. Salvatore is built on ancient foundations. In the 15th century it was slightly altered, and in 1606-23 it was completely rebuilt. The new monumental temple was designed by chaplain Abrogio Masenta and architect Tommas Martelli.
Address: Via Volto Santo 1, 40123 Bologna
Opening hours: 9.00 - 14.00 and 16.00pm - 19.30. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano
e-mail:
www.parrocchiasantibartolomeoegaetano.it
Opening hours: daily 7.00 - 13.00 and 16.00pm - 19.00. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Church of San Giovanni in Monte
Address: Piazza S. Giovanni in Monte, 1/2 - 40124 Bologna. www.parrocchie.it/bologna/sgm/
Opening hours: daily 7.30 - 12.00 and 16.00 -19.00. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Chiesa di San Paolo Maggiore
Address: Via Carbonesi 18, 40123 Bologna
Opening hours: Mon - Sat 8 - 12 and 16 - 19, Sun and holidays 8 - 13 and 16.30 - 19.00. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Church of Santi Vitale e Agricola
Church of St. Vitale and Agricola was built on the ruins of the Roman arena where, according to tradition, Saints Vitale and Agricola were killed.
Address: Via S. Vitale 50, 40125 Bologna
Opening hours: daily 8.00 - 12.00 and 15.30 - 19.30. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services. Free admission.
Map
Church of Santi Gregorio e Siro
Address: Via Montegrappa, 15 - 40121 Bologna
Opening hours: 8.00 - 12.00 and 17.00pm - 19.30m (call to confirm). Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
Map
Church of San Procolo
Address: Via D'Azeglio 52 - 40123 Bologna
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 7.30 - 11.00, Sat also 17.00 - 19.30;
Sun 7.30 - 12.30. Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
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Church of San Girolamo della Certosa
Opening hours: summer 8.00 - 12.00 and 14.30 - 17.45; winter 8.00 - 12.00 and 14.30 - 16.45.
Entrance may be restricted or closed during services.
Free admission.
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Campanile della Basilica di San Petronio
Address: Piazza Maggiore, 40124
Opening hours: Usually closed to the public, contact tel. 051 231415.
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Campanile della Basilica di San Domenico
Bell tower of the Church of St. Dominico was built in 1313 in the Gothic style and has a height of 51 meters.
Address: Piazza S. Domenico, 13 - 40124 Bologna
Opening hours: Usually closed to the public, contact tel. 051 6400411.
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Campanile della Basilica Santa Maria dei Servi
This bell tower was completed in 1455 and is 52 meters high.
Address: Strada Maggiore, 43, 40100 Bologna - 40125 Bologna
Opening hours: Usually closed to the public, contact tel. 051 226807.
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Campanile della Chiesa di San Giacomo Maggiore
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The bell tower, built in 1471, was built on the left side of the church and is 55 meters high.
Address: Piazza Rossini - 40126 Bologna
Opening hours: Usually closed to the public, contact tel. 051 225970.
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Campanile della Chiesa dei Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano
Address: Strada Maggiore, 4 - 40125 Bologna www.parrocchiasantibartolomeoegaetano.it
Opening hours: Usually closed to the public, contact tel. 051 227692.
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Campanile della Chiesa di San Girolamo della Certosa
Address: Via della Certosa 18, 40133 Bologna
Opening hours: Usually closed to the public, contact tel. 051 6142382.
Oratory of San Rocco
The oratorio is dedicated to the plague-healing saint San Rocco. Inside are valuable frescoes painted by some of Caracci's students from 1618 onwards.
Address: Via Monaldo Calari 4/2 40122
Opening hours: Thursday 14.30 - 23.00, weekends 10 - 12, on other days - by agreement.
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The huge Basilica of St. Petronio (San-Petronio) is located in Bologna's main square, Piazza Magiore. The main cathedral of Bologna is the sixth largest basilica in the world and the 15th largest Catholic church in the world. It is for its size that San Petronio is called the main cathedral of the city; this temple is not a cathedral. The length of the Cathedral of San Petronio is 132 meters, the width is 66 meters, the height of the internal vaults is 45 meters, the height of the unfinished facade is 51 meters.
I had a chance to see a panorama of the center of Bologna from an airplane window on a clear night. The Basilica of San Petronio seemed incredibly huge. It’s interesting, but even when you are near the basilica in the evening, it seems larger than during the day.
The first stone of the foundation of the Cathedral of San Petronio was laid in 1390. The architect Antonio di Vincenzo was invited to supervise the construction of the ambitious temple. To make room in the city center, 8 churches and several towers were demolished in Bologna. 8 chapels were planned in the cathedral, which were named after the demolished temples; there are 22 chapels in total. Above the 11th chapel on the right is a bell tower, erected in 1481-1495. There are 4 bells on the tower, as prescribed by the traditions of Bologna.
The original design of the basilica was superior in size and luxury to St. Peter's Church in the Vatican. The Vatican did not like the idea; Pope Pius IV issued a special order in 1562, in which he adjusted the size and decoration of the future temple downward.
The Gothic style cathedral took an incredibly long time to build. In 1401, Antonio di Vincenzo died; after his death, work continued on the miniature model of the temple he created. By 1479, the façade of San Petronio was completed, but its decoration with pink marble was never completed. Attempts to complete the facade according to existing drawings and drawings were made even in the 20th century.
The history of the construction of the Cathedral of San Petronio is full of unpleasant stories about the theft of materials and waste of funds. Partly due to the constant lack of funds, the project was repeatedly simplified. As a result, construction was completed in 1663. Antonio di Vincenzo most likely would not have recognized his brainchild... The planned grandiose dome was never built. The Basilica of San Petronio became the latest Gothic church in Italy.
The basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of Bologna, Saint Petronius, who was a bishop in the 5th century. An interesting fact is that the construction of the basilica was not a church project, it was built as a symbol of the greatness of the municipal authorities of Bologna. The statue of Saint Petronius in Bologna is located at the base of the leaning towers, and not near the basilica.
The temple officially came under the jurisdiction of the church only in 1929, although various events took place in the cathedral, including the coronation of Emperor Charles V in 1530. The official consecration of the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna took place in October 1954, when large-scale work on the restoration of the temple continues continuously to this day. Quite recently the façade was restored; now the back part of the temple is in the woods, from where the ascent is made. In 2000, the remains of Saint Petronio, previously buried in , were transferred to the Basilica of San Petronio.
The entrance to the Basilica of San Petronio is decorated with sculptures by Jacopo della Quercia based on 15 scenes from the New and Old Testaments.
The Great Michelangelo called the Virgin of the portal of the Cathedral of San Petronio by della Quercia the most beautiful Virgin of the 15th century.
Entrance to the Basilica of San Petronio is free, but you have to pay for the right to take photographs in the cathedral. The presence of a sticker, which must be stuck in a visible place, is checked by numerous security officers. There are always a lot of them in the cathedral. Those who are not too lazy to read the note to the end will find out why.
The interior of the Cathedral of San Petronio is designed in white and red colors - the colors of the coat of arms of the city of Bologna.
The pointed Gothic vault appeared in the basilica in the very last years of construction; the vaults were never completed.
The 22 chapels of the Cathedral of San Petronio differ in style and splendor of decoration.
In one of them, the luxurious Chapel of St. Abbondio, Pope Clement VII crowned Emperor Charles V.
The floor in front of the entrances to the chapel is also a work of art.
The chapels were decorated in the 15th and 16th centuries, many of them unfinished.
In the central part of the cathedral there is a nave with a canopy.
The Cathedral of San Petronio is filled with beautiful works of art, on which famous masters worked at different times. But according to the project, there should have been many more masterpieces here.
In the Basilica of San Petronio, two ancient working organs have been preserved. One of them is Lorenzo's organ from Prato, the oldest surviving organ in the world.
The main attraction of the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna is the brass meridian, calculated with incredible accuracy by the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1655. The length of the meridian line is 67.72 meters, exactly 600,000 part of the earth's meridian. This is the longest meridian in the world. The meridian is also a solar calendar, when sunlight hits the meridian through a small hole in the roof of the basilica, the month and day can be determined. Meridian was restored in 1925, confirming the accuracy of the design. On solstice days, it is clear that the location of the sun's ray does not correspond to the circles drawn along the edges of the Meridian line. This is the effect of changing the inclination of the Sun's ecliptic. The difference will increase until 11250, and then return to the marks painted on the floor of the Basilica by 18200.
And another very famous landmark of the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna is the scandalous fresco of Giovanni da Modena “Hell”, created in 1410-12. The fresco is located in the fourth left chapel; entrance to it is paid separately. For 3 euros, visitors are given an audio guide in several languages. When there are visitors, the lights are turned on in the chapel. Other visitors to the cathedral can see the fresco from afar, as if from the side. In the chapel itself, photography of the fresco is not allowed.
The fresco illustrates canto 28 from Dante's Divine Comedy. The fresco also depicts the Prophet Mohammed, tormented by devils. Dante writes: “Vedi come storpiato è Maometto!” (Look how Mahomet is crippled). For obvious reasons, the fresco is the object of increased attention from theologians and Islamist terrorists, who have repeatedly planned to blow up the Basilica of San Petronio. Disputes among church ministers and politicians do not stop. The official Vatican response on this issue was given by Cardinal Ernesto Vecchi: “The fresco does not offend our Muslim brothers. She is not against Islam. It is impossible to interpret a work of art dating back to 1400 from a modern point of view."
Curiosities of the Basilica of San Petronio, Bologna melodie_del_mar wrote in December 20th, 2010
Sometimes you dig into seemingly the most ordinary things and find very interesting facts that make you see the “subject” in a new light.
Sitting with a cup of coffee on Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, I did not feel any special reverence for its Main Cathedral, the Basilica of San Petronio. And I read it and was surprised.
The temple is very curious, very unusual, based on its entire history. 
Firstly, the Basilica of San Petronio in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna is the fifth largest church in the world. Its height is 132 meters and 28 thousand people can be there at the same time! 
Secondly, despite the fact that the Basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Petronius, who was the Bishop of Bologna in the Fifth century, its construction was not an ecclesiastical project, but a communal project, it was built as a symbol of the communal power of Bologna and officially passed to The church was built only in 1929, and was consecrated only in 1954! Despite the fact that they were buried there and crowned...
Moreover, the remains of St. Petronius were buried in the basilica only in 2000. 
This is the strange main church in Bologna.
A municipal decree on its construction was issued in 1388, and the first stone was laid in 1390; the city council invited Antonio di Vincenzo to build the cathedral in the Gothic style. The work, as was often the case in those days, lasted for more than a century; the façade was completed only in 1479.
Thirdly, the main entrance with sculptures is the work of the famous Jacopo della Quercia. We in Lucches look with bated breath at his Ilaria, and here the whole door is in Della Quercia, look, I don’t want to. 
Bologna has always been the main center of Baroque music in Italy, the musical community was officially established by Pope Eugene IV in 1436, from the 16th century the first musicians appeared “on a paid basis” - receiving salaries for their work, and in 1476 and 1596 two organs were built which are still in excellent condition.
Another interesting fact is that in the basilica in the left aisle on the floor there is a “meridian” - a sundial in the shape of an astronomical meridian; in 1655 it was designed by the famous astronomer of that time Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who taught astronomy at the university. The length of the meridian is 66.8 meters, this is the longest astronomical meridian in the world, and the readings have always been accurate to the point of uniqueness. Cassini kept records of the readings of these clocks 
