Basilica di San Petronio

Overview

The Basilica di San Petronio is Bologna's main church and one of the largest in the world at 132 meters long. Its famously unfinished marble-and-brick facade tells a story of ambition thwarted by papal politics.

Highlights

• Cassini's Meridian Line: A 66.8-meter sundial line inlaid in the floor in 1655, one of the largest astronomical instruments ever built.
• Cappella Bolognini: Giovanni da Modena's vivid 15th-century frescoes depicting Heaven, Hell, and the Journey of the Magi.
• The Unfinished Facade: The lower half is clad in Istrian marble; the upper half remains bare brick.

History

Construction began in 1390 with a design that would have rivaled St. Peter's in Rome. Pope Pius IV deliberately halted the project in 1561 by commissioning the Archiginnasio on the adjacent site.

Visitor Tips

• Meridian Line: Visit around solar noon to see the sunbeam hit the brass line.
• Dress code: Shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.