Basilica di Santo Stefano, Bologna

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San Petronio's tomb (431-450) is preserved in the church of San Sepolcro which was built during the 5th century and later resored in the 12th century. Petronio was a bishop of the town and is patron saint of Bologna. The courtyrd adjacent to the church is called "Cortile di Pilato" and has lovely marble basin in which believers would throw coins.
The following church is Chiesa della Trinita, famous for its heavy ornate crosses placed in the three niches and representing Christ and the two thieves.
Human remains of Saints Vitale e Agricola are kept in two sepulchres made of stone in the 5th century church Chiesa di San Vitale e Agricola. In addition, a magnificent Roman cloister is located very close to the complex of the seven churches.

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“Never one of the more beautiful cities of Italy, Bologna is nevertheless a place of some interest, chiefly because of its school of painting. But at first sight what strikes the traveller as most characteristic is the arcades, that give to this old-world city a curious individuality. There are indeed really miles of them, so that it is said to be possible to pass through the whole city under cover.”
— from “Italy and the Italians” 1903 by Edward Hutton

The buildings of Santo Stefano represent the places where Christ’s Passion played out. Originally there were seven churches in the complex; now following renovations carried out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries there are only four.

In Chiesa del Santissimo Crocefisso you will see columns and capitals from Roman construction.

Basilica dei Santi Vitale e Agricole is thought to be the city’s oldest church, with the remains of sixth century mosaic floors.

Chiesa del San Sepolcro, also called Chiesa del Calvario, is round and holds the tomb of San Petronio (see photo #4), patron saint of Bologna. A replica of Christ’s tomb, including the Angel of Good News and the sleeping Roman soldiers, is on view at this church. At Easter the stone is rolled back to help the faithful recreate the discovery of the Resurrection.

Chiesa della Trinità church, restored between 11th and 12th century, has a 14th-century crib made of painted and gold wood by Simone dei Crocifissi you can admire.

Opening Hours Weekdays: 9 am - 12.30 pm / 3.30 pm - 6.30 pm; Holidays: 9 am - 1 pm / 3.30 pm - 7 pm. During Mass, tourist visits could be limited or suspended.

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“Never one of the more beautiful cities of Italy, Bologna is nevertheless a place of some interest, chiefly because of its school of painting. But at first sight what strikes the traveller as most characteristic is the arcades, that give to this old-world city a curious individuality. There are indeed really miles of them, so that it is said to be possible to pass through the whole city under cover.”
— from “Italy and the Italians” 1903 by Edward Hutton

Within the courtyard of Santo Stefano is a first-story cloister supported by delicate columns with the most amusing capitals (see photos #1, #2 & #3). This Benedectine cloister has a double open gallery dating from 10th century to the 13th century.

Opening Hours Weekdays: 9 am to 12.30 pm / 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm; Holidays: 9 am to 1 pm / 3.30 pm to 7 pm

During Mass, the tourist visit could be limited or suspended.

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The marble basin, from AD 741, stands at the center of Cortile di Pilato with it two-story cloister. Cortile di Pilato is a remarkably peaceful place; the marble basin was given by Liutprando and Ilprando, kings of the Lombards. This is the very heart of Santo Stefano.

Opening Hours Weekdays: 9 am - 12.30 pm / 3.30 pm - 6.30 pm; Holidays: 9 am - 1 pm / 3.30 pm - 7 pm

During Mass, the tourist visit could be limited or suspended.

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“Santo Stefano in Bologna presents the most curious and interesting collection of churches in Northern Italy.”
— from ‘Northern Italian Details: Drawings and Photographs’ 1916 by Walter Grant Thomas, John Tiernan Fallon

Basilica di Santo Stefano was built in part by recycling materials from the Roman and Byzantine eras. This recycling practice is my favorite feature of this collection of buildings.

On the walls facing the courtyard, checkerboard and herringbone patterns (see photos #1, #2 and #3), and even a cross (see photo #4), were formed with re-purposed bricks and marble.

Opening Hours Weekdays: 9 am - 12.30 pm / 3.30 pm - 6.30 pm; Holidays: 9 am - 1 pm / 3.30 pm - 7 pm

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“Saint Stephen, an extraordinary church, formed by the uniting of seven chapels, is one of the oldest and most characteristic in Italy.”
— from “Historical, Literary, and Artistic Travels in Italy” 1835 by Antoine Valery (1789-1847)

AN AGE OLD CHURCH Locally known as Sette Chiese, Seven Churches, the Basilica of Santo Stefano is a complex of buildings in the Romanesque style that were built on the site of a temple that was dedicated to the goddess Isis. Because of renovations carried out between 1870 and 1930 today the complex contains only four churches, Chiesa del Santissimo Crocifisso, Bsilica dei Santi Vitale e Agricola, Chiesa del San Sepolcro and Chiesa della Trinita.

After being made bishop of Bologna in AD 432, San Petronio founded the church of Santo Stefano. Our Saint had been on pilgrimage to the Holy Land and based the plan for this shrine on Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre. The present-day churches were built between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Opening Hours Weekdays: 9 am - 12.30 pm / 3.30 pm - 6.30 pm; Holidays: 9 am - 1 pm / 3.30 pm - 7 pm

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Known as le sette chiese, i.e., the seven churches, the complex of Santo Stefano is one of the most important religious, historical and architectural structures in Bologna. The complex, as a Christian place of worship, dates from the 5th century AD, but it was built over the Roman temple of the goddess Isis. Although expanded and modified over time, it still contains elements from the earliest periods. Its most important churches are: la Chiesa del Crocifisso, la Chiesa del Sepolcro, and Santi Vitale e Agricola, the three of which are described in further detail below. Other interesting features include il Cortile di Pilato (Pilate's Courtyard), la Chiesa della Trinità (Church of the Holy Trinity), il Chiostro dei Benedittini (Cloister of the Benedictines) and the Museum of Santo Stefano. The complex is located on Piazza Santo Stefano.

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The most fascinating church in the complex of Santo Stefano, la Basilica dei Santi Vitale e Agricola contains many elements from ancient structures. Although it was rebuilt in the 11th century in a Romanesque style, the interior has conserved Roman columns from the 3rd century AD as well as fragments of ancient mosaics. It was once dedicated to Saint Peter, but was later rededicated to Saints Vitale and Agricola, the local martyrs who escaped persecution in Roman times.

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Dodecagonal in plan, la Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro is the oldest church in the complex of Santo Stefano. It is thought to have been built in the 5th century AD as a recreation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by Saint Petronius, Bishop of Bologna, over the Roman temple of Isis. Materials from the temple, including some columns made from African marble, were reused in its construction. However, the church was rebuilt in the 12th century, so it is uncertain how much of the original church was retained, other than the columns. The exterior of the church harmoniously mixes Byzantine, Pisan, Romanesque, and Gothic features. The church is accessed through la Chiesa del Crocifisso, and from here, the next church, la Chiesa di Santi Vitale e Agricola as well as the courtyard known as Cortile di Pilato are accessed

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The complex of Santo Stefano is entered through la Chiesa del Crocifisso, Church of the Holy Crucifix. Built in the 8th century AD, it is the largest church in the complex. It has a Romanesque façade and its interior consists of a single nave with an elevated presbytery in the back. Suspended from an arch is a large wooden cross carved by Simone dei Crocifissi in the 14th century. A door on the left hand side of the church provides access to the adjacent Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro.