Bologna - Basilica di San Petronio

Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Founded by the Etruscans, the city has been an urban center for centuries, first under the Etruscans, then under the Celts, then under the Romans, and again in the Middle Ages, when it was among the largest European cities by population. It is home to the oldest university in Europe established in 1088.

The Basilica of San Petronio is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Petronius, who was the bishop of Bologna in the fifth century. Construction began in 1390 and its main facade has remained unfinished since. With its huge dimensions (length 132 m, width 60 m, vault height 45 m) it is one of the largest churches in the world.

the basilica dates back to 1390, when the city of Bologna commissioned Antonio di Vincenzo to build it. For centuries the church was built. After the first design of the facade in 1393, work began on the side chapels, which were not completed until 1479. The decorations of the central nave were made by Girolamo Rainaldi between 1646 and 1658. The basilica was given to the diocese only in 1929 and was consecrated in 1954.