Basilica di San Petronio

The Basilica is in the centre of Piazza Maggiore and one of the main attractions in the city. Entry is free, you have to join the queue to get in when it’s busy. Some of the side chapels charge you for entry to get in, I think it’s €3. Beautiful church to visit and would recommend going to see the grand architecture.

St Petro Basilica has the oldest art pieces with its gothic atmosphere which you feel the spirit. Splendid statues and paintings seems more impressive with the building architecture. Visit, pray and donate if you are in the town.

The Center of Piazza Maggiore and one of the main attractions of the city. Worth it to visit and drop an eye inside (It’s for free). Very old and well kept Basilica!

Basilica di San Petronio is an important piece of Bologna’s history. Built back in 1390, it was originally planned to be even bigger than St. Peter’s in Rome, but they ended up scaling it down because of politics and the church’s influence. It’s dedicated to Saint Petronius, Bologna’s patron, and has this cool mix of Gothic design with unfinished facades that actually adds to its charm. Definitely worth a visit if you’re into unique architecture and history. There are other basilicas in close-ish cities (fir example Padova) that are more impressive, but this one is special as well. At the time of our visit there was no entry fee, crowds were biggest around midday. There is a ramp to the right of the entrance, so wheelchair and stroller access is available.

All about this basilica was inspiring to me. The facade which is unfinished, the main entrance with its details, the light inside the building, color of walls and pilara. This huge gothic church is 132 m long and 66 wide. This makes her 10th biggest in the world. But the biggest build from bricks. And impresive on size as it is in interior.

Very beautiful basilica. This stunning Gothic church, one of the largest in the world, features an impressive façade and an incredibly detailed interior. The intricate frescoes and the massive sundial are particularly captivating. Our guide brought us in here. One interesting note is that one of the mural had a depiction of a demon eating a certain prophet in a certain religion.

A massive basilica with a stunning interior. Many sculptures and paintings adorn the internals, although some portions appear to be unfinished. There are dress code requirements, but the extent to which it is enforced supposedly varies depending on who does the enforcing.

A true masterpiece inside out, even the unfinished facade is charming. The interior decorations are one of the best in italy!

Situated in Piazza Maggiore the imposing front face of the basilica stands out immediately, its half-brick, half-finished white and red marble lower half stark in contrast. The finished face of the cathedral is sparsely adorned compared to similar church buildings of the same period. Inside the soaring cream-colored vaulted ceilings also contrast with the terra-cotta column and archway edges, another reflection of the white and red colors of the city. The main apse ceiling appears modest and undecorated, though a few of the smaller chapel ceilings exemplify the colorful murals that may have been intended for the total ceiling once finished. Interestingly enough when looking up some history this basilica was meant to serve as a more of a civil center rather than purely religious building. Entry is free (donations suggested) and no advance reservation is needed. When I came by on a Tuesday afternoon in April the church was finishing up a service, all the while allowing passersby to enter and visit, of course asking to maintain a respectful silence. Parishioners lit candles and prayed in front of the local patron saint as well as at individual chapels. Intriguing to get a glimpse into how different cultures interact in places of worship.

The Italian Gothic basilica is dedicated to Saint Petronius, who was the bishop of Bologna in the 5th century. A life size statue of him is in the basilica. It was built in 1390 and its main facade is still unfinished. The building was transferred from the city to the diocese in 1929 and was consecrated in 1954. 28,000 people can fit inside, it is enormous. The altar contains a 15th-century wooden crucifix. At the back, a fresco of the Madonna and cartoons. The ornate ciborium of the main altar was built in 1547. The 15th century wooden choir was completed by Agostino de 'Marchi. The vaulting and decoration of the central nave is by Girolamo Rainaldi, who completed it in 1646. The nave contains twenty-two side chapels each more ornate than the next. In 2002 five Al Quads terrorists were arrested, they were planning to blow up the basilica. They were angry a fresco depicts Mohammed in hell being devoured by demons.

The huge, Gothic Basilica of San Petronio was originally supposed to be bigger than St. Peter's in Vatican City, but Pope Pio IV apparently commissioned an extension to the university next door, and put a stop to the grand plans. It's still incredibly impressive, though - the façade is half marble, half exposed brick; and inside, you'll find frescoes, bronze busts and the world's biggest sun dial. Dedicated to Saint Petronius who is actually the patron saint of Bologna, the church has a Gothic design and it is noted for both its sheer size and its unfinished front facade. Inside, the church feels truly enormous - the brick columns seem to go on forever and the main altar captures your attention as you walk down the central aisle. This is a church not to be missed.

So, it was just our luck that the same day that we rolled into Bologna to live it up was also the day of San Petronio! We got to attend a service at this very crowded basilica honoring the saint along with the rest of the people of Bologna. The piazza in front of the church is a kind of gathering point for all people, local and tourists, with several sitting on the steps and enjoying the free wifi spot. Since it was the saint's day and admission was free, we decided to go in to check everything out. The basilica here is standard as far as several hundred year old Italian basilicas go. And by standard, I mean that it is devastatingly beautiful. This is not as gothic as the basilica in Firenze, but more gilded that the other cathedral on the other side of Bologna by the university. The paintings and frescoes here are very well maintained and wonderful representations of art from the era they church was built in. I will also add that the acoustics here are very good, even without microphones. If you're stopping through Bologna, you should check this place out. It's free, takes up maybe 30 minutes of your time, and is a very well maintained piece of cultural importance.

Pretty awesome thing. I believe it is the fifth largest church in the world. It's free and there's not much to it - I believe it is simply one HUGE room. You really cannot miss it, and should not miss it. Doesn't cost anything and doesn't take much time. You don't even have to put it on your list because you will inevitably pass it.

This magnificent building stands in Piazza Maggiore and is the fifth largest church in the world! It would have been the largest, outdoing even St Peters in Rome, if Pope Pius 1V hadn't put his foot down. It was begun in the 14th century and work continued for hundreds of years. The 17th century vaults and pillars of the central nave are beautiful and there are many fine carvings, stained glass windows and paintings to see, particularly 'Madonna with Saints' by Lorenzo Costa. Well worth a visit.