Metropolitan Cathedral of San Pietro
Many people, Bolognese and not, think that Bologna's cathedral is the Basilica di San Petronio in Piazza Maggiore. Actually, the cathedral is located a few metres further along Via Indipendenza. We’re talking about the Cattedrale di San Pietro (St Peter’s Cathedral), named 'metropolitan cathedral' in 1582, the year Pope Gregory XIII made Bologna a bishopric.
St Peter's history is closely linked to that of another sanctuary very dear to the Bolognese, the Basilica di San Luca. Every year in the month of May, the image of the Blessed Virgin of San Luca is carried in procession from the Colle della Guardia to the centre of the city, finally arriving at San Pietro. Here, the icon of the Madonna - called black because of the colour of the image - remains exposed to the faithful for a week before returning to the Sanctuary of San Luca. The procession is a tribute to the figure of Mary who, according to tradition, stopped the flood that was ravaging the city in the spring of 1433.
The interior of the church
St Peter's Cathedral was built on the site of an early Christian structure from the 10th century. Its current appearance dates back to 1605 and is due to the design of Floriano Ambrosini, the architect who was responsible for the total reconstruction of the church. The imposing brick and marble façade is the work of
Alfonso Torreggiani (1747).
On entering the interior, we find numerous important works. First and foremost is
Ludovico Carracci's altarpiece, an Annunciation dated 1619, which was the last work executed by the painter and can be admired above the altar. Also worth seeing are
Alfonso Lombardi's Pietà (1522), located in a side chapel, and works by Prospero Fontana and Donato Creti.
The bell tower of St Peter's
The cathedral bell tower has many special features, starting with its height. At 70 metres, it is t
he second highest tower in Bologna, after the Asinelli tower. Formed of two parts built in different eras, the 10th and 13th centuries, and inserted one inside the other, the bell tower has a characteristic spire roof that makes it easily recognisable in the Bolognese panorama.
In addition, the bell tower of San Pietro houses a record-breaking bell. At 33 quintals, the 'granny' - as it has been nicknamed - is
the heaviest manually operated bell in the world. In order to ring bells of such tonnage, a special method had to be developed in the 16th century that required the use of many bellringers, as many as 20 in San Pietro. Today, it is possible to visit the bell tower and climb to the top, to see the belfry with your own eyes and
admire Bologna from above.
