Churches
The Church of St. Stephen and St. Peter, back to the origins of Christianity, the church of St. Dominic, which saw the birth of the Dominican order, until the impressive St. Petronio, the heart of Bologna; the visit of the churches of Bologna offers a unique and impressive framework of the history of the Italian Catholicism.
Sanctuary of San Luca
Via San Luca, 36
Hours: 7-12:30; 14:30-17 (Nov.-Feb.), 14:30-18 (Mar.-Oct.), 14:30-19 (Apr.-Sept.); holidays: open without a break
The Sanctuary on the Monte della Guardia is an ancient place of worship; it contains a painting of the Madonna reputed to have been the work of Saint Luke the Evangelist. The walk under the porticos from via Saragozza all the way to the sanctuary is beautiful.
Cathedral of San Pietro
Via Dell’Indipendenza, 7
Hours: 7.00-12.30, 15.30-19.30
The home of the episcopal chair and spiritual center of Bologna, this church was originally built around the year one thousand, but what we currently see dates from a reconstruction project carried out in 1605. The bell tower was built in 1184.
The Church of San Girolamo della Certosa
Via della Certosa, 18
Tel: 051 6142382 Hours:summer:8-12, 14:30-17:45;winter: 8-12, 14:30-16:45
This is the monumental municipal cemetery of Bologna, built in 1333 over an ancient Etruscan necropolis. The complex of cloisters, galleries and corridors also contains the gothic church of San Girolamo, built in the 14th century..
Church of San Domenico
Piazza S. Domenico, 13
Tel: 051 237017 Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 7:30-13, 15:30-20; Saturday: 7:30-13, 15:30-19:30; holidays: 8-13, 15:30-19:30
This church dates back to 1221 and was built at the behest of Saint Dominic; together with the connected convent, it constitutes one of the most important architectural complexes in the city. The Sarcophagus of Saint Dominic, in which the saint’s remains are conserved, was the work of Nicola Pisano.
Church of San Francesco
Piazza San Francesco
Tel: 051 221762; 051 263495 Orario: 6.30-12, 15-19
Built in the 13th century, it is the first example of French Gothic architecture in Italy. It boasts spectacular flying buttresses in the apsidal area and the bell towers are from the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. It also contains a splendid marble altar piece from the fifteenth century.
Church of San Giacomo Maggiore
Piazza Rossini
Tel: 051 225970 Hours: 6.30-12, 15-18
Built in 1267 by the Augustan friars, this church contains the Bentivoglio chapel with the tombs of this patrician Bologna family, also boasting a very beautiful renaissance portico.
Church of Santa Maria della Vita
Via Clavature, 10
Tel: 051 236245, 051 224002 Hours: winter: Mon.-Sat.: 7:30-18; holidays: 16-18estate: 8-12.30, 16.30-18.30; festivi: 16.30-18
This is the church of the first hospital in Bologna, founded in 1260. It contains a terracotta group called The Three Marys Lament over the Dead Christ, sculpted by Niccolò dell’Arca in 1463.
Church of San Petronio
Piazza Maggiore
Hours: winter: 7:30-13:00, 14:30-18:00; summer: 7:30-13:30, 14:30-18:30
This is the fifth largest church in the world, but considered the symbol of municipal power; it is not the city’s Duomo, i.e. Cathedral. The main portal is adorned with a bas-relief masterpiece by Jacopo della Quercia; on the inside you’ll find the famous sundial designed by Cassini in 1655.
Church of Santi Vitale e Agricola
Via S. Vitale, 48
Tel: 051 220570 Hours: mon.-fri. 8.30-13.45; sat. : 8.30-12.45
Consecrated to the martyred Saints Vitale and Agricola, this church dates back to the year one thousand and has maintained its original appearance almost unaltered. The Santa Maria degli Angeli chapel was added in 1400.
Church of S. Stefano
Piazza S. Stefano
Tel: 051 223256 Hours: 9-13; 15.30-17.30
Known as "The Seven Churches", this complex is the sancta sanctorum of Bologna and is composed of various buildings dedicated to the Passion of Jesus. The original nucleus was built in the 8th century over a pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. It is here that the remains of Saint Petronio are kept.
Church of Santa Maria dei servi
Strada Maggiore, 43
Tel: 051 226807
Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, this gothic church boasts a beautiful quadriportico. It contains many precious works of art, including Cimabue’s Madonna and Child.