« Back to Bologna
Metropolitana, Museo Civico And The Church Of San Francesco
There’s much less of interest to the north and west of Bologna’s central piazzas. The city’s cathedral, the Metropolitana di San Pietro , is on the right out of Piazza del Nettuno, two blocks down Via dell’Indipendenza from Piazza del Nettuno. Originally a tenth-century building, it’s been rebuilt many times and is these days more enjoyable for its stately region than any particular features. The Museo Civico Medioevale e dal Rinascimento (Mon & Wed-Fri 9am-2pm, Sat & Sun 9am-1pm & 3.30-7pm; L8000/¬4.13), opposite, is of more interest, housed in the Renaissance Palazzo Fava at Via Manzoni 4 and decorated with frescoes by Carracci and members of the Bolognese School depicting the History of Europa, Jason’s Feats and scenes from the Aeneid . The museum collection itself includes bits of armour, ceramics, numerous tombs and busts of various popes and other dignitaries, and a Madonna and SS by Jacopo della Quercia. West of Piazza del Nettuno, at the end of Via Ugo Bassi, the basilica of San Francesco (daily 6.30am-noon & 3-7pm) is a huge Gothic brick pile supported by flying buttresses that was heavily restored in the 1920s and partly rebuilt after World War II. Inside there are a beautiful and very ornate altarpiece from 1392 and a pleasant cloister.
Tags: atmosphere, bologna, century building, dell, indipendenza, museo civico, piazza, piazzas, rinascimento, san pietro, tenth century