Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
plex. Originally there were seven churches - hence the basilica's nickname Sette Chiese -
but only four remain.
Entry is via the 11th-century
Chiesa del Crocefisso
, which houses the bones of San Petro-
nio and leads through to the
Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro
. This austere octagonal structure
probably started life as a baptistery. Next door, the
Cortile di Pilato
is named after the cent-
ral basin in which Pontius Pilate is said to have washed his hands after condemning Christ
to death. In fact, it's an 8th-century Lombard artefact. Beyond the courtyard, the
Chiesa
della Trinità
connects to a modest cloister and a small
museum
. The fourth church, the
Santi
Vitale e Agricola
, is the city's oldest. Incorporating recycled Roman masonry and carvings,
the bulk of the building dates from the 11th century. The considerably older tombs of two
saints in the side aisles once served as altars.
Oratorio di Santa Cecilia
CHURCH
(Via Zamboni 15; 10am-1pm & 2-6pm)
This is one of Bologna's unsung gems. Inside, the
magnificent 16th-century frescoes by Lorenzo Costa depicting the life and Technicolor
death of St Cecilia and her husband Valeriano are in remarkably good nick, their colours
vibrant and their imagery bold and unabashed. The Oratorio hosts regular free chamber-
music recitals. Check the board outside for upcoming events.
University Museums
The world's oldest university has a slew of museums that make a break from the
ecclesiastical art/dark-church alternatives. Some of them are free. Most are in the
Palazzo
10am-1pm & 2-4pm Tue-Fri, 10.30am-1.30pm & 2.30-5.30pm Sat & Sun)
, where you can peruse
waxwork uteri in the
Obstetrics Museum
and giant tortoiseshells in the
Museum of Natural
Sciences
.
There's free entry to see the stuffed exhibits over at the
Museo di Zoologia
and the
Museo
di Antropologia
on nearby Via Selma 3.
MUSEUM
Pinacoteca Nazionale
(Via delle Belle Arti 56; admission €4; 9am-1.30pm Tue-Wed, 9am-7pm Thu, 2-7pm Fri-Sun)
The
city's main art gallery has a powerful collection of works by Bolognese artists from the
ART GALLERY
