About this experience
Bologna is a treasure trove of Italian art. You will visit three magnificent basilicas: St. Petronius, St. Dominic, and Santa Maria della Vita. Appreciate the works of Bolognese school artists Reni and Guercino, examine sculptures by Michelangelo in detail, get acquainted with the masterpieces of Pisano, Lombardi, and del Arca. And I will help decipher the meanings embedded in them!
What to Expect
Basilica of St. Petronius. You will visit the last Gothic cathedral in Europe, which in size was supposed to surpass St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. I will tell you why it took more than 300 years to build it, what secrets the Bolognini chapel holds, and which artistic composition influenced Michelangelo's work.
Piazza Santo Stefano. I will show you the sarcophagi of the glossators located on it. I will reveal who they are, what relation the Justinian Code has to the University of Bologna, and why serfdom was abolished in the city in the middle of the 13th century.
Basilica of St. Dominic. This is a real treasury of world art. You will see sculptures by 19-year-old Michelangelo, learn about his life and the Bolognese period of his creativity. In addition, we will talk in detail about St. Dominic, the Dominican Order, the Inquisition, the first Academy of Fine Arts in Europe, and the local painting school.
Basilica of Santa Maria della Vita. A small Baroque-style church containing two rare terracotta compositions: "Lamentation of Christ" and "Assumption of the Most Holy Virgin." I will share the features of working with terracotta and reveal why Michelangelo considered sculpture the greatest of all arts.
Organizational Details
Entrance tickets are paid separately: Bolognini Chapel - 5 euros, Basilica of Santa Maria della Vita - 10 euros.
