Bologna

The Basilica del Sepolcro 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. Already within the 5th century Bishop Petronius built a "Holy Sepulchre" here, recalling the Church of the Holy Sepulche in Jerusalem, consecrated in 335. Petronius´ church got severely damaged during the devastating invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. The octogonal church got rebuilt a century later by Benedictian monks from red bricks. The dome above, seen here, is dodecagonal. It is supported by 12 columns.

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. Within the 15th century a sarcophag was found here bearing the inscription "Symon". A rumor spread, that the original tomb of Simon Peter - aka Saint Peter. Suddenly pilgrims headed to Bologna instead to Rome. To stop that "business" Pope Eugenius IV ordered to fill up this church with earth - and is stayed so - for 70 years.

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. Seen here may be Vitalis and Agricola. Legends tell that Agricola was a noble Christian, who converted his slave Vitalis to Christianity, what resulted in martyrdom. To the left somebody is riding a dragon - and is just getting devoured. Well the two dragons will probably share the poor soul.

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.

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. Obviously some Roman pillars were reused here - reinforced by iron rings.

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. Saint Agricola (left) and Saint Vitalis flank Christ. They greet the onlookers below, while Christ blesses them. This relief adorned the facade of the church once. It got replaced by a copy. The original is protected inside the museum.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Petronius´ church got severely damaged during the devastating invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. The octogonal Basilica del Sepolcro got rebuilt a century later by Benedictian monks. Next to the Basilica del Sepolcro is "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), one of two cloisters of the complex. The building seen in the back is the Chiesa della Trinità o del Martyrium ("Church of the Trinity or the Martyrium"), a church that never got completed.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Petronius´ church got severely damaged during the devastating invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. The octogonal Basilica del Sepolcro got rebuilt a century later by Benedictian monks. These dancing mermaids are inside the Chiesa della Trinità o del Martyrium ("Church of the Trinity or the Martyrium"), a church that never got completed. Only the portico exists. Here is a wonderful "Adoration of the Magi" created in 1370 by the well known painter Simone dei Crocifissi, but the sculptures are behind reflective glass - and I was unable to take a decent photo.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. There are two cloisters, after having passed the smaller one, next to the Basilica del Sepolcro, named "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), the visitor enters this large two storey cloister.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. There are two cloisters, after having passed the smaller one, next to the Basilica del Sepolcro, named "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), the visitor enters this large two storey cloister. Seen here is the tower "Chiesa del Crocifisso".

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. There are two cloisters, after having passed the smaller one, next to the Basilica del Sepolcro, named "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), the visitor enters this large two storey cloister, that has some nice capitals.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. "Sette Chiese" is like a labyrinth, built around two cloisters. I followed a sign to the "Chiesa Madonna di Loreto" and was very was surprised, when I entered. The 14th century chapel is an Air Force Memorial.

The Emilia-Romagna is well known for culinary delights - and Bologna is the center of the Emilia-Romagna. One of the famous products from Bologna is Mortadella - and to keep it that special is the task of the "Consorzio Mortadella Bologna". At night dozends of different producers offered the large sausages in the center of the city. The goods are offered from Mortadella-coloured "Piaggio Apes". www.mortadellabologna.com/

The Emilia-Romagna is well known for culinary delights - and Bologna is the center of the Emilia-Romagna. One of the famous products from Bologna is Mortadella - and to keep it that special is the task of the "Consorzio Mortadella Bologna". At night dozends of different producers offered the large sausages in the center of the city. The goods are offered from Mortadella-coloured "Piaggio Apes". www.mortadellabologna.com/

Le due torri - late in the evening. The towers were constructed between 1109 and 1119. The Asinelli Tower (right) and the Garisenda Tower are the last really high rising medieval tower houses in Bologna. It is estimated, that upto 180 of these towers existed in Bologna during the 12th century. The Asinelli Tower has a height of 97.2 metres. The Garisenda Tower is still 48 metres high.

The Basilica di San Petronio is 132 metres long and 66 metres wide. With its volume of 258,000 m³ this is the fifteenth largest church in the world - and the largest church built in bricks. The construction started in 1390, it took several centuries to build it. The facade, seen here, is still not completed.

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.

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.