Emilia-Romagna

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution. End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints. The church first was named "San Vitale ed Agricola in Arena", as it may have been built over the remains of an amphitheatre where the martyrdom of Vitalis and Agricola had taken place. Obviously some Roman pillars were reused here - reinforced by iron rings.

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution. End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints. Saint Agricola (left) and Saint Vitalis flank Christ. They greet the onlookers below, while Christ blesses them. This relief adorned the facade of the church once. It got replaced by a copy. The original is protected inside the museum.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Petronius´ church got severely damaged during the devastating invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. The octogonal Basilica del Sepolcro got rebuilt a century later by Benedictian monks. Next to the Basilica del Sepolcro is "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), one of two cloisters of the complex. The building seen in the back is the Chiesa della Trinità o del Martyrium ("Church of the Trinity or the Martyrium"), a church that never got completed.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Petronius´ church got severely damaged during the devastating invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. The octogonal Basilica del Sepolcro got rebuilt a century later by Benedictian monks. These dancing mermaids are inside the Chiesa della Trinità o del Martyrium ("Church of the Trinity or the Martyrium"), a church that never got completed. Only the portico exists. Here is a wonderful "Adoration of the Magi" created in 1370 by the well known painter Simone dei Crocifissi, but the sculptures are behind reflective glass - and I was unable to take a decent photo.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. There are two cloisters, after having passed the smaller one, next to the Basilica del Sepolcro, named "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), the visitor enters this large two storey cloister.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. There are two cloisters, after having passed the smaller one, next to the Basilica del Sepolcro, named "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), the visitor enters this large two storey cloister. Seen here is the tower "Chiesa del Crocifisso".

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. There are two cloisters, after having passed the smaller one, next to the Basilica del Sepolcro, named "Cortile di Pilato" ("Pilate's courtyard"), the visitor enters this large two storey cloister, that has some nice capitals.

The "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. According to tradition Saint Petronius, a bishop during the 5th century, built the first basilica. He actually wished a building that recalled the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This church got severely damaged during the invasions of Hungarian troops in the tenth century. A century later Benedictian monks rebuilt the complex. "Sette Chiese" is like a labyrinth, built around two cloisters. I followed a sign to the "Chiesa Madonna di Loreto" and was very was surprised, when I entered. The 14th century chapel is an Air Force Memorial.

The Basilica di San Petronio is 132 metres long and 66 metres wide. With its volume of 258,000 m³ this is the fifteenth largest church in the world - and the largest church built in bricks. The construction started in 1390, it took several centuries to build it. The facade, seen here, is still not completed.

The Emilia-Romagna is well known for culinary delights - and Bologna is the center of the Emilia-Romagna. One of the famous products from Bologna is Mortadella - and to keep it that special is the task of the "Consorzio Mortadella Bologna". At night dozends of different producers offered the large sausages in the center of the city. The goods are offered from Mortadella-coloured "Piaggio Apes". www.mortadellabologna.com/

The Emilia-Romagna is well known for culinary delights - and Bologna is the center of the Emilia-Romagna. One of the famous products from Bologna is Mortadella - and to keep it that special is the task of the "Consorzio Mortadella Bologna". At night dozends of different producers offered the large sausages in the center of the city. The goods are offered from Mortadella-coloured "Piaggio Apes". www.mortadellabologna.com/

Le due torri - late in the evening. The towers were constructed between 1109 and 1119. The Asinelli Tower (right) and the Garisenda Tower are the last really high rising medieval tower houses in Bologna. It is estimated, that upto 180 of these towers existed in Bologna during the 12th century. The Asinelli Tower has a height of 97.2 metres. The Garisenda Tower is still 48 metres high.

A small, but very strange paste-up graffito in Bologna. Is this a warning? For rabbits? For tourists? For meat-eaters? For tourists? For neighbours? Or is this a "Bunny Bolognese"?

Legends tell, that Saint Tertullian, Bishop of Bologna, founded a church here. Local information goes even further, claiming the first church was may have been erected over a temple of the Celtic God Cernunnos. It is proven, that a Benedictian convent existed here in 1035. The parish church was built within the 18th century. The rotunda dates to the 8th century. After the Benedictian monks withdrew, Servite Friars moved in - and in 1322 started to build the campanile - on top of the rotunda.

Legends tell, that Saint Tertullian, Bishop of Bologna, founded a church here. Local information goes even further, claiming the first church was may have been erected over a temple of the Celtic God Cernunnos. It is proven, that a Benedictian convent existed here in 1035. The parish church was built within the 18th century. The rotunda dates to the 8th century. After the Benedictian monks withdrew, Servite Friars moved in - and in 1322 started to build the campanile - on top of the rotunda.

The "Basilica di Santa Maria Annunziata e San Biagio" was completed in 1096, following a carved inscription on the facade. The construction was funded by the noble Sala family, strong allies of the Guelphs under Matilda of Tuscany. The basilica was erected on the foundations of a paleochristian oratory, that again was built over the ruins of an older temple. The church was in ruins end of the 19th century and got renovated and rebuilt in 1924, then even some parts, that had been demolished over the centuries, got added again. The Campanile was added to the basilica un 1926. Unfortunately the church as locked.

The "Basilica di Santa Maria Annunziata e San Biagio" was completed in 1096, following a carved inscription on the facade. The construction was funded by the noble Sala family, strong allies of the Guelphs under Matilda of Tuscany. The basilica was erected on the foundations of a paleochristian oratory, that again was built over the ruins of an older temple. The church was in ruins end of the 19th century and got renovated and rebuilt in 1924, then even some parts, that had been demolished over the centuries, got added again. The main apse is from the original church, while the smaller side apses were added during the renovation.

The "Basilica di Santa Maria Annunziata e San Biagio" was completed in 1096, following a carved inscription on the facade. The construction was funded by the noble Sala family, strong allies of the Guelphs under Matilda of Tuscany. The basilica was erected on the foundations of a paleochristian oratory, that again was built over the ruins of an older temple. The church was in ruins end of the 19th century and got renovated and rebuilt in 1924, then even some parts, that had been demolished over the centuries, got added again - and the crypt, that had been filled up with earth, got opened again. I could not enter the church, as it was locked, but I could peep into the large crypt through a broken window.