Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The statue of Pope Gregory XIII, the Bolognese prelate responsible for the Gregorian
calendar, was placed above the main portal in 1580, while inside, Donato Bramante's
16th-century staircase was designed to allow horse-drawn carriages to ride directly up to
the 1st floor.
GOOGLE MAP
( 051 20 36 29; Palazzo Comunale; adult/reduced €5/3; 9am-6.30pm Tue-Fri,
10am-6.30pm Sat & Sun)
with its interesting collection of 13th- to 19th-century paintings,
sculpture and furniture.
Outside the
palazzo
, three large panels bear photos of hundreds of partisans killed in
the resistance to German occupation, many on this very spot.
Palazzo Fava
GALLERY
( 051 1993 6305;
www.genusbononiae.it
;
Via Manzoni 2; admission €10; 10am-7pm Tue-Sun)
This astounding museum is an exposition space encased in a Renaissance mansion given
over primarily to temporary art. The biggest draw, however, is the heavily frescoed rooms
on the 1st floor painted in bright naturalistic style by the precocious young Carraccis (two
brothers and a cousin) in the 1580s.
There's a lovely cafe on-site.
Palazzo del Re Enzo
(Piazza del Nettuno)
This 13th-century palace is named after King Enzo, the illegitimate son
of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, who was held here by papal forces between 1249
Beneath the
palazzo
, there's a
whispering gallery
where two perpendicular passages in-
tersect. Stand diagonally opposite someone and whisper: the acoustics are amazing. Both
palazzi
are off limits to the public unless there's a temporary exhibition on (check with the
tourist office found in the same square).
PALACE
Basilica di San Petronio
CHURCH
