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BOLOGNA
The monumental centre of
the City is formed by the contiguous Piazza Maggiore and Piazza
del Nettuno this architectural complex being dominated by
the Gothic church of S. Petronio (1390-1659), one of the largest
of medieval Italy, with an ornate, central door by the sculptor
Jacopo della Quercia (1425-38) and by the characteristic façade
which remained unfinished. The immense interior, which still
preserves a sun-dial on its flooring, is embellished with
frescoes, amongst which we remember those of Giovanni da Modena
(1410-20), and from the altar and tribune of Vignola (1550).
Still in the square’s complex, you can find the Palazzo
del Podestà (13th Century), remodelled in the Renaissance
style, the Palazzo Comunale (13th Century) which contains
the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte (Comunal Art Collection)
being the museum dedicated to Giorgio Morandi, the Palazzo
di re Enzo (King Enzo’s Palace) (13th Century), Palazzo
dei Notai (Notary building) (14th-15th Centuries), Palazzo
dei Banchi (Banks) (of Vignola, 1568), which housed the old
shops of bankers; the Fontana di Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune)
with the statue by Giambologna (1556) which embellished the
homonymous Square, while the area to the left of the church,
contains the Archiginnasio Palace (1563) with the ancient
Teatro anatomico (17th-18th Centuries).
Amongst those churches with merit of artistic interest are:
S. Giacomo Maggiore (13th-14th Centuries) containing the tomba
Bentivoglio (tomb) by Jacopo della Quercia (1435), S.Maria
dei Servi (1346-1500), S. Martino (13th-16th Centuries). The
prototype of Dominican construction in Italy, can be seen
in the church of San Domenico, constructed between 1219 and
1240, and transformed during the 18th Century, preserving
in its interior the famous Arca del santo, work of the school
of N. Pisano, but also containing an Angel, one of the very
first works of the young Michaelangelo. The church of San
Francesco (1236) is unique for its monumentality, though reflecting
the Gothic shape influenced from the other side of the Alps,
therefore revealing a totally original Emilian structure.
Still noteworthy are the Palazzo della Mercanzia (1382) in
Gothic style and the Rennaisance Palace Bevilacqua (1474-82).
The Pinacoteca Nazionale preserves important testimonies of
Medieval and Bolognese schools of the 14th-18th Centuries;
amongst the other museums we should remember are the Museo
Civico Archelogico (Civic Archeological Museum) (evidencing
Villanovans, Etruscans, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans) with the
seat of the Archiginnasio, the Museo Medievale (Medieval Museum)
which is seated in the Palazzo Ghislardi-Fava, a wonderful
noble home of the 1400’s, which can be found in Via
Manzoni, a lateral road of Via Indipendenza – the most
frequented arterial road of the City – finally we cannot
forget the Museo Morandi (Morandi Museum), dedicated to the
great 20th Century artist.
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