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San Petronio church, Bologna
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San Petronio church, Bologna

Rear view - Bologna
Rear view
by darkjedi
San Petronio church tips and photos posted by real travelers and Bologna locals.
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San Petronio church: Stunted ambition
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  • Tijavi
  • Updated By Tijavi on December 21, 2008
  • Bologna Page by Tijavi
  • Notice the unfinished facade - Bologna
    Notice the unfinished facade
    by Tijavi, 4 more photos
    The Basilica di San Petronio is Bologna's main cathedral. Compared with other churches in Italy (like those in Florence and Siena), it looks modest. But that was not the original plan. When construction began in 1390, the grand plan was to build Christendom's largest cathedral, even bigger than Vatican's San Pietro. Still unfinished until the mid-1500s, Pope Pius IV squashed the original builders' dreams when funds were rechanneled to building a university on the eastern side of the church (the Palazzao Archiginnasio). The result was the unfinished facade that we see now, and the church being "demoted" to only the 5th largest in the world.

    Despite the unfulfilled dream, San Petronio still boasts beautiful works by major Italian artists. The main doorway was carved by Jacopo della Querica in 1425 depicting the Madonna and Child and biblical scenes. The gothic interiors contain 22 chapels with some outstanding stained glass works by Jacopo of Ulm while Giovanni da Modena and Jacopo di Paolo painted the stunning frescoes.

    While entrance to the church is free, non-personal bags (for example, backpacks) are not allowed inside the church and this is strictly enforced. I had to leave my backpack at my hotel - but I was lucky since it was only a few meters from Piazza Maggiore.

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  • Address: Piazza Maggiore
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    San Petronio church: Basilica di S. Petronio
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  • croisbeauty
  • Updated By croisbeauty on June 12, 2006
  • Bologna Page by croisbeauty
  • Basilica di San Petronio - Bologna
    Basilica di San Petronio
    by croisbeauty, 4 more photos
    The huge Basilica was built to honour Petronius, bishop of the town; it is reckoned to be one of the greatest Catholic churches throughout Italy and features a length of 132 metres, a width of 60 metres, a facade of 51 metres and finally a central vault of 41 metres.
    The three naves basilica was designed by architect Antonio di Vicenzo, in June 1390,however, the designed construction was never completed because of the great disapproval of the Roman Church.

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  • Address: Piazza Maggiore
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    San Petronio church: San Petronio - Interior
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  • Willettsworld
  • By Willettsworld on August 24, 2005
  • Bologna Page by Willettsworld
  • San Petronio church - Bologna
    by Willettsworld,
    1 more photos
    Inside the church, Charles V was crowned king of the empire in 1530 by Pope Clement VII. Very interesting are the 15th-century wooden choir by Agostino de' Marchi, the two majestic organs and the high altar erected in 1547 by Vignola. The church contains the remains of Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon, and a big sundial, made by Gian Domenico Cassini. Of the 22 art-filled chapels, the most interesting is the Bolognini Chapel (Cappella Bolognini), the fourth on the left as you enter; it's embellished with frescoes representing heaven and hell. An interesting museum is annexed to the church.

    Open: Daily 7:30am-1pm and 2-6:30pm (until 6pm Oct-Mar)

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    San Petronio church: San Petronio
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  • Polly74
  • Updated By Polly74 on February 10, 2005
  • Bologna Page by Polly74
  • San Petronio facade - Bologna
    San Petronio facade
    by Polly74
    Named after the city's patron saint, this vast basilica is Bologna's largest church, but was intended to be even larger. Building started in 1392 to a plan that would have made the basilica bigger than St Peter's in Rome, but the Vatican forbade this overweening attempt to build something bigger than the Pope's home church.

    On the eastern side of the basilica, along the Via dell'Archiginnasio, you can see semi-constructed apses jutting from the basilica walls and an incomplete facade. Despite the papal downsizing, the basilica is still the fifth largest in the world.

    The central doorway, by sculptor Jacopo della Quercia, dates from 1425 and has exquisite carvings of scenes from the Old and New Testament and a beautiful Madonna and Child

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  • Address: Piazza Maggiore
  • Phone: 051 275805
  • Directions: In the central square Hours: winter: 7:30-13:00, 14:30-18:00; summer: 7:30-13:30, 14:30-18:30
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    San Petronio church: The Basilica of San Petronio
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  • prleprle
  • Updated By prleprle on December 4, 2002
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  • San Petronio church - Bologna
    by prleprle
    The Basilica stand on the main (or great) square of the town and is really impresive and huge. It is one of the largest churches in Chrisiendom (they started to build it as a largest one but luck of money and Pope didn't allow that happen and original plan was changed). It was built between XIV and XVII century. On the doorsteps of the church are always a lot of people sitting and enjoying themselves.

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  • Address: Piazza Maggiore
  • Directions: Centre of Town centre
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    San Petronio church: San Petronio - Exterior
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  • Willettsworld
  • Updated By Willettsworld on August 24, 2005
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  • San Petronio church - Bologna
    by Willettsworld
    Dedicated to the city's 5th century bishop, this church, which is, at present, the fifth biggest building in the Catholic world, ranks among the greatest of Italy's brick-built medieval buildings. Founded in 1390, it was originally intended to be larger than St Peter's in Rome, but its size was sclaed down when the church authorities diverted funds to the nearby Palazzo Archiginnasio. The resulting financial shortfall left the church decidedly lopsided, with a row of columns on its eastern flank that were intended to support an additional internal aisle.

    Open: Daily 7:30am-1pm and 2-6:30pm (until 6pm Oct-Mar)

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  • Address: Piazza Maggiore
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    San Petronio church: Inside San Petronio
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  • Polly74
  • By Polly74 on February 9, 2005
  • Bologna Page by Polly74
  • The main altar - Bologna
    The main altar
    by Polly74
    This is the main altar in the church.
    The inside of the church is very nice and sone of the chapels contain frescos by Giovanni da Modena and Jacopo di Paolo.

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  • Address: Piazza Maggiore
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    San Petronio church: The Basilica of St.Petronio
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  • Aggeliki
  • By Aggeliki on November 28, 2003
  • Bologna Page by Aggeliki
  • San Petronio church - Bologna
    by Aggeliki
    it is situated in Piazza Maggiore and its one of the most characteristic churches in Bologna. It was built in 1390 but was never finished.

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    San Petronio church: San Petronio
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  • Gillianina
  • Updated By Gillianina on January 5, 2003
  • Bologna Page by Gillianina
  • San Petronio - Bologna
    San Petronio
    by Gillianina
    Although the biggest church of the city, it is not the cathedral: the bishop's church is San Pietro. San Petronio was the patron saint of the city. The church was built in the late gothic period and was left incomplete. If finished, it would have been the biggest catholic church in the world, even bigger than S.Peter in Rome. But of course this couldn't happen: S.Peter in Rome had to be the biggest, because it was the most important, where the Pope was, and moreover there was a lack of funds.

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    San Petronio church: Return to San Petronius, (but...
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  • ChrsStrl
  • By ChrsStrl on August 26, 2002
  • Bologna Page by ChrsStrl
  • San Petronio church - Bologna
    by ChrsStrl
    Return to San Petronius, (but when we were there the best cycle of frescoes is behind a heavy marble screen and was difficult to see).

    Much of the interior is taken up by scaffolding, being noisily dismantled.

    We then go to Tamborini, the restaurant/ delicatessen where we are to lunch. The exhibition of tortellini making has already begun. The art of making such delicate little ones seems to be very fussy for something so soon eaten.

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