Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BOLOGNA'S SECOND RENAISSANCE
It's not easy giving a 3000-year-old city a second Renaissance, especially when the first one was so
spectacular, but with the help of some rehabilitated churches, an innovative new history museum and
molto investment from a local bank foundation, Bologna has had a damned good stab at it. The project
to protect and beef up the city's historic heritage was first hatched in 2003 and has, to date, added
eight new locations to the city's already impressive stash of cultural treasures. Called Genus Bononi-
ae: Museums in the City, the project was completed in January 2012 with the opening of the
Museo
della Storia di Bologna
(
Click here
). This museum takes you on a striking modern voyage through
the city's past courtesy of ingenious architect Mario Bellini. The Genus Bononiae's three main sights
- the aforementioned history museum,
Palazzo Fava
(
Click here
)
and
San Colombano - Collezione
Tagliavini
- are covered by a joint ticket costing €10. Other venues include
Santa Maria della Vita
(Via Clavature 8-10; 10am-noon & 3-7pm Tue-Sun) , a sanctuary-cum-sculpture museum,
the
San Giorgio Poggiale
(Via Nazario Sauro 20/2; 9am-1pm Mon, Wed-Fri, to 5pm Tue)
library, which contains a vast collection of historic books, and the
Chiesa di Santa Cristina
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(Piazzetta Morandi 2) , a church now used as a classical concert hall.
Open sporadically for expos is the renaissance
Casa Saraceni
(Via Farini 15) . You can also visit the
church at the old
San Michele in Bosco monastery
(Piazzale di San Michele in Bosco;
9am-noon
& 4-6pm) .
1
South & West of
Piazza Maggiore
Museo Civico Archeologico
(Via dell'Archiginnasio 2; adult/reduced €5/3; 9am-3pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6.30pm Sat & Sun)
Impress-
ive in its breadth of coverage, this museum displays well-documented Egyptian and Ro-
man artefacts along with one of Italy's best Etruscan collections.
MUSEUM
Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio
PALACE, MUSEUM
(Piazza Galvani 1)
The result of Pope Pius IV's project to curtail the Basilica di San
Petronio, this palace was the seat of the city university from 1563 to 1805. Today it
Library; 9am-6.45pm Mon-Fri, to 1.45pm Sat)
and the fascinating 17th-century
Teatro Ana-
9am-6.45pm Mon-Fri, to 1.45pm Sat)
, where public body
