The monastery complex of St. Stephen, also called the "Seven Churches", is located on piazza Santo Stefano.
According to legend, the complex, the prototype of which was the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, began to be built on the initiative of Bishop Petronius. He was bishop of Bologna in 430-451. Saint Petronius is considered the patron saint of Bologna. The complex was built on the site of the pagan temple of Isis. Historical research confirms the ancient age of buildings.
The Church of John the Baptist or the Crucifixion dates back to the 8th century, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (or Golgotha) dates back to about the 5th century (rebuilt in the 12th century). Saint Petronius is buried in this church. The Church of Saints Vitaly and Agricola was also built in the 5th century (rebuilt in the 8th century and then in the 11th century). Unfortunately, numerous unsuccessful (19th - early 20th century) restorations reduced the number of traditional seven churches to four. The fourth church is the Martyrdom Church.
It is also known as the Church of the Trinity. Exact dating of the building is missing. Probably, the martyrs Vitaly and Agricola (hence the name - martyrdom) were originally buried in this church. With the arrival of the Lombards, the church was turned into a baptistery. In the 9th-10th centuries the complex fell into disrepair. In the 11th century the monastery passed to the Benedictines, who carefully restored the buildings during the 11th-13th centuries. Romanesque features added to the buildings during these restoration works still characterize the exterior architectural style of the complex. The facades of the Church of the Crucifixion (right), the Holy Sepulcher (center) and Saints Vitaly and Agricola (left) overlook the square.
A small courtyard, Pilate's Courtyard, located behind the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, leads to the Church of the Trinity. The medieval monastery yard is located next to the Church of the Trinity.
The Church of the Crucifixion was built by the Lombards (8th century). Later the church was rebuilt.
The oldest parts of the church are Romanesque walls and a crypt (1019). The vault under the roof truss rises above the single-nave space. The altar part, to which the stairs lead, rises above the crypt. The crypt is divided by columns of various shapes into five naves. According to legend, the height of one of the columns from the foundation to the capital corresponds exactly to the height of Christ (about 170 cm, which at that time was considered high). An urn containing the remains of Saints Vitaly and Agricola is kept in the crypt. In the church you can see the sculptural group "Lamentations of Christ" (18th century, Angelo Gabriella Pio, left side of the nave), "Crucifixion" (1380, Simone dei Crocifissi, altar), frescoes "Martyrdom of St. Stephen" , church walls). The walls of the crypt are also decorated with frescoes. The images of Saints Vitaly and Agricola date back to the 16th century. A small fresco "Our Lady of the Snows" is attributed to Lippi di Dalmazio (15th century, crypt).
The Church of Saints Vitaly and Agricola dates back to the 5th century and is one of the first Bologna churches. In the 8th century, materials from the Roman era (Ionian capitals; mosaic floor) were used to restore the church. In the 11th century another restoration was carried out. The building acquired a Romanesque appearance. The facade is divided into three parts. The building has a basilica plan without a transept. Initially, the church was dedicated to St. Peter, but then it was dedicated to Saints Vitaly and Agricola - the first martyrs from Bologna, who died in 305. The remains of saints rest in medieval sarcophagi.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built in the 11th-12th centuries. 12 marble and brick columns enclose the central part of the church, forming an inner chapel (aedicule), where the relics of St. Petronius were kept.
The relics of the saint were transferred to the Basilica of St. Petronius in 2000. The church has a spring that embodies the waters of the Jordan.
According to archeological data, this spring was the sacred source of the temple of Isis. Most likely, the church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on the site of the temple of Isis. The 7 columns of African marble also date back to the Roman era - another piece of evidence left over from a pagan temple. One of the marble columns stands a little to one side and symbolizes the column of the scourging of Christ. The inscription on the column promises an indulgence for 200 years to anyone who sees this place. The walls and ceiling of the church were covered with frescoes of the 13th century. Some of them were lost during the restoration work in the 19th century, the restoration has caused much controversy and criticism. Preserved frescoes can be seen today in the church museum.
Near the exit from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the Courtyard of Pilate, which embodies the listroton (stone mansion on which Christ was judged). The so-called "Pilate's Basin" (737-744, limestone) is installed in the courtyard.
On one of the columns of the arched gallery of the courtyard there is a stone image of a rooster - "St. Peter's Rooster". It is a reminder of the gospel story of Peter's renunciation and repentance. The whole complex is imbued with Jerusalem symbols. Even the distance from Pilate's Courtyard to St. John's Church on the mountain repeats the distance from the Jerusalem Sanhedrin to Calvary.
Trinity Church (rebuilt in the 12th-13th centuries), also called Martyrium or Church of the Holy Cross (it got its name from a relic brought from the Crusades and kept in the church chapel until 1950), more than other buildings of the monastery complex suffered from restoration work . The interior of the church is divided into five naves. Of great interest is a wooden sculptural group, the figures of which are made to human height - "Worship of the Magi".
The work dates back to the end of the 13th century, it is the oldest nativity scene in the world, the composition of which is composed of full-length sculptures. In 1370 the figures were painted and gilded by the Bologna master Simone dei Crocefissi. On the walls of the church are partially preserved frescoes of the 14th century. Of particular interest is the fresco depicting St. Ursula and the Mother of God in weight (pregnant Mother of God).
On the walls are numerous plaques with the names of Bologna citizens who died in the wars.
The monastery yard, which has a real arched gallery leading from the Church of the Trinity, is one of the best examples of Romanesque architectural style in all of Emilia. The courtyard with a double gallery dates back to 10-13 centuries. The first tier of the gallery consists of Proto-Romanesque arches, the second - of Romanesque-Gothic. In the center of the yard is a well (1632). From the monastery yard you can see the monastery bell tower (built in the 13th century, built in the 19th century).
On the south side of the portico of the courtyard is the entrance to the museum of St. Stephen's complex.
The museum of the monastery complex has a collection of cult objects and works of art from seven churches. Notable high relief of Lombard work, which depicts Christ between Saints Vitaly and Agricola. The museum also keeps a bandage, which, according to legend, was worn by the Virgin. Among the paintings are images of saints from scattered polyptychs by Simone dei Crocefissi (14th century), "Our Lady with the Infant and St. John" (16th century, Innocento da Imola), fresco "Beating Infants" (13th century, Lucca School). An interesting reliquary created for the storage of the head of St. Petronius in 1380 in the jewelry workshop of Jacopo Rosetto.
According to legend, the complex, the prototype of which was the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, began to be built on the initiative of Bishop Petronius. He was bishop of Bologna in 430-451. Saint Petronius is considered the patron saint of Bologna. The complex was built on the site of the pagan temple of Isis. Historical research confirms the ancient age of buildings.
The Church of John the Baptist or the Crucifixion dates back to the 8th century, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (or Golgotha) dates back to about the 5th century (rebuilt in the 12th century). Saint Petronius is buried in this church. The Church of Saints Vitaly and Agricola was also built in the 5th century (rebuilt in the 8th century and then in the 11th century). Unfortunately, numerous unsuccessful (19th - early 20th century) restorations reduced the number of traditional seven churches to four. The fourth church is the Martyrdom Church.
It is also known as the Church of the Trinity. Exact dating of the building is missing. Probably, the martyrs Vitaly and Agricola (hence the name - martyrdom) were originally buried in this church. With the arrival of the Lombards, the church was turned into a baptistery. In the 9th-10th centuries the complex fell into disrepair. In the 11th century the monastery passed to the Benedictines, who carefully restored the buildings during the 11th-13th centuries. Romanesque features added to the buildings during these restoration works still characterize the exterior architectural style of the complex. The facades of the Church of the Crucifixion (right), the Holy Sepulcher (center) and Saints Vitaly and Agricola (left) overlook the square.
A small courtyard, Pilate's Courtyard, located behind the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, leads to the Church of the Trinity. The medieval monastery yard is located next to the Church of the Trinity.
The Church of the Crucifixion was built by the Lombards (8th century). Later the church was rebuilt.
The oldest parts of the church are Romanesque walls and a crypt (1019). The vault under the roof truss rises above the single-nave space. The altar part, to which the stairs lead, rises above the crypt. The crypt is divided by columns of various shapes into five naves. According to legend, the height of one of the columns from the foundation to the capital corresponds exactly to the height of Christ (about 170 cm, which at that time was considered high). An urn containing the remains of Saints Vitaly and Agricola is kept in the crypt. In the church you can see the sculptural group "Lamentations of Christ" (18th century, Angelo Gabriella Pio, left side of the nave), "Crucifixion" (1380, Simone dei Crocifissi, altar), frescoes "Martyrdom of St. Stephen" , church walls). The walls of the crypt are also decorated with frescoes. The images of Saints Vitaly and Agricola date back to the 16th century. A small fresco "Our Lady of the Snows" is attributed to Lippi di Dalmazio (15th century, crypt).
The Church of Saints Vitaly and Agricola dates back to the 5th century and is one of the first Bologna churches. In the 8th century, materials from the Roman era (Ionian capitals; mosaic floor) were used to restore the church. In the 11th century another restoration was carried out. The building acquired a Romanesque appearance. The facade is divided into three parts. The building has a basilica plan without a transept. Initially, the church was dedicated to St. Peter, but then it was dedicated to Saints Vitaly and Agricola - the first martyrs from Bologna, who died in 305. The remains of saints rest in medieval sarcophagi.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built in the 11th-12th centuries. 12 marble and brick columns enclose the central part of the church, forming an inner chapel (aedicule), where the relics of St. Petronius were kept.
The relics of the saint were transferred to the Basilica of St. Petronius in 2000. The church has a spring that embodies the waters of the Jordan.
According to archeological data, this spring was the sacred source of the temple of Isis. Most likely, the church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on the site of the temple of Isis. The 7 columns of African marble also date back to the Roman era - another piece of evidence left over from a pagan temple. One of the marble columns stands a little to one side and symbolizes the column of the scourging of Christ. The inscription on the column promises an indulgence for 200 years to anyone who sees this place. The walls and ceiling of the church were covered with frescoes of the 13th century. Some of them were lost during the restoration work in the 19th century, the restoration has caused much controversy and criticism. Preserved frescoes can be seen today in the church museum.
Near the exit from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the Courtyard of Pilate, which embodies the listroton (stone mansion on which Christ was judged). The so-called "Pilate's Basin" (737-744, limestone) is installed in the courtyard.
On one of the columns of the arched gallery of the courtyard there is a stone image of a rooster - "St. Peter's Rooster". It is a reminder of the gospel story of Peter's renunciation and repentance. The whole complex is imbued with Jerusalem symbols. Even the distance from Pilate's Courtyard to St. John's Church on the mountain repeats the distance from the Jerusalem Sanhedrin to Calvary.
Trinity Church (rebuilt in the 12th-13th centuries), also called Martyrium or Church of the Holy Cross (it got its name from a relic brought from the Crusades and kept in the church chapel until 1950), more than other buildings of the monastery complex suffered from restoration work . The interior of the church is divided into five naves. Of great interest is a wooden sculptural group, the figures of which are made to human height - "Worship of the Magi".
The work dates back to the end of the 13th century, it is the oldest nativity scene in the world, the composition of which is composed of full-length sculptures. In 1370 the figures were painted and gilded by the Bologna master Simone dei Crocefissi. On the walls of the church are partially preserved frescoes of the 14th century. Of particular interest is the fresco depicting St. Ursula and the Mother of God in weight (pregnant Mother of God).
On the walls are numerous plaques with the names of Bologna citizens who died in the wars.
The monastery yard, which has a real arched gallery leading from the Church of the Trinity, is one of the best examples of Romanesque architectural style in all of Emilia. The courtyard with a double gallery dates back to 10-13 centuries. The first tier of the gallery consists of Proto-Romanesque arches, the second - of Romanesque-Gothic. In the center of the yard is a well (1632). From the monastery yard you can see the monastery bell tower (built in the 13th century, built in the 19th century).
On the south side of the portico of the courtyard is the entrance to the museum of St. Stephen's complex.
The museum of the monastery complex has a collection of cult objects and works of art from seven churches. Notable high relief of Lombard work, which depicts Christ between Saints Vitaly and Agricola. The museum also keeps a bandage, which, according to legend, was worn by the Virgin. Among the paintings are images of saints from scattered polyptychs by Simone dei Crocefissi (14th century), "Our Lady with the Infant and St. John" (16th century, Innocento da Imola), fresco "Beating Infants" (13th century, Lucca School). An interesting reliquary created for the storage of the head of St. Petronius in 1380 in the jewelry workshop of Jacopo Rosetto.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
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