Basilica of Santo Stefano (Bologna)

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Piazza Santo Stefano in Bologna and Basilica Santo Stefano

The Basilica Santo Stefano in Bologna is actually a church complex consisting of several Romanesque buildings, one of the most impressive in the city. It is located in the square of the same name and is also known as Sette Chiese (Seven Churches) in everyday language .

history

According to legendary tradition, St. Petronius himself is said to have planned the church complex based on the model of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and built it on the ruins of a pagan temple of Isis . The existing buildings themselves date from the 12th century with later changes. The church bears the title of a minor basilica .

It is certain that the buildings have an ancient origin: the church of San Giovanni Battista or Santo Crocefisso goes back to the 8th century, the church of Santo Sepolcro (Holy Sepulcher) perhaps even to the 5th; it was rebuilt soon after 1141. In a cell towered over by an altar with a lectern was the grave of St. Petronius, Bishop of Bologna between 431 and 450 and patron saint of the city. More recently, the relics have been transferred to the Basilica of San Petronio .

The Church of St. Vitalis and Agricola in Arena dates back to the 5th century but was restored in the 8th and 12th centuries. She keeps the coffins of the two martyrs.

Through the Cortile di Pilato (Pilate's Court), actually an archway from the 13th century, you come to the Chiesa della Trinità (Trinity Church) from the 13th century.

The numerous restorations that were carried out around 1880 and at the beginning of the 20th century have profoundly changed the old shape of the church complex and merged the original seven churches into four.

  • Plan of Santo Stefano

  • Church of St. Vitalis and Agricola

  • Santo Sepolcro Church soon after 1141

  • Temple of the Skull Mount in the Church of Santo Sepolcro
  • Cloister

  • Adoration of the Magi (approx. 1290-1370) in martyrdom. Photo by Paolo Monti , 1980.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ousterhout 1981.
  2. ^ Parrocchia di Santi Vitale e Agricola in Arena. In: Chiesa di Bologna.
    Commons: Category: Santi Vitale e Agricola (Bologna) .

Web links

Commons : Santo Stefano (Bologna)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 44 ° 29 ′ 31.6 "  N , 11 ° 20 ′ 54.8"  E