Bologna - Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century.

This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution.

End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints.

The church first was named "San Vitale ed Agricola in Arena", as it may have been built over the remains of an amphitheatre where the martyrdom of Vitalis and Agricola had taken place.

Two Romanesque capitals flank the door.

In case Saint Vitale and Saint Agricola are seen on the left side of the door - and having in mind, that the place, where the church is now, may have been the "arena" where they were martyred, then the twelve heads may symbolize the crowd of spectators then have been in the amphitheatre.