Basilica di San Petronio
Bologna
Imposing, with its unfinished façade, the Basilica di San Petronio dominates Piazza Maggiore in Bologna. Dedicated to the city's patron saint, it is one of the largest brick churches in the world and holds the longest meridian line ever traced inside a building. Your treasure map takes you to a Gothic giant left half-finished.
History
Construction of the Basilica di San Petronio began in 1390, commissioned by the Comune of Bologna as a civic rather than a religious symbol: it was never a cathedral, but a city church dedicated to the patron bishop Petronius. The original design, attributed to Antonio di Vincenzo, called for colossal dimensions, but work dragged on for centuries and the façade remained unfinished, clad in white and pink marble only on its lower part.
What to see
The three-nave Gothic interior is marked by mighty pillars and holds twenty-two side chapels. The central portal keeps the splendid sculptures by Jacopo della Quercia, made in the early 15th century and admired by Michelangelo too.
Across the floor runs the famous meridian line designed by the astronomer Gian Domenico Cassini in 1655: at over 66 metres, it is the longest meridian line in the world traced inside a building. A ray of sunlight entering through a hole in the vault strikes the line, marking solar noon.
Curiosities
The basilica was supposed to be bigger than St Peter's in Rome. According to tradition the Pope blocked the ambitious project, although the main reason it was never finished was lack of money.
Visiting
Entry to the basilica is free. The climb to the panoramic terrace and access to some areas require a ticket. It looks straight onto Piazza Maggiore, in Bologna's pedestrian heart.
