Piazzetta della Pioggia
Piazzetta della Pioggia is located in Bologna, not far from Via Indipendenza. Today a crossroads between two important streets in the historical centre, via Riva Reno and via Galliera, until not so long ago the little square had a completely different appearance. One of the many canals still running through Bologna's underground passages flowed here, the Reno, which was covered during the 20th century.
Moreover, at the intersection of the two streets there was once a gate that delimited the second circle of the city walls, known as the Cerchia dei Mille or dei Torresotti.
The origin of the name
The
funny name of the small square (literally “square of the rain”) was given to it only a few years ago by the City of Bologna, more precisely in 2003. The term
pioggia refers to the church of the Madonna della Pioggia which stands right on the square and houses an image of the Madonna believed to be miraculous.
The
legend of the Madonna of the Rain dates back to the 14th century and relates that the portrait not only survived a fire, but also healed a blind man who had arrived on the scene because of the noise caused by the fire itself. The work was actually only painted in the 15th century by Michele Di Matteo, but despite this temporal inconsistency, the people continued to venerate it and invoke its protection against natural disasters and epidemics that swept through the city.
But the origin of the name Piazzetta della Pioggia does not derive solely from this legend. IIf you observe the square, it is easy to see how very few of the buildings facing onto it are porticoed unlike what usually happens in Bologna. The
lack of such protection against the weather, which the Bolognese have always used to avoid getting wet in case of rain, seems to have led to the birth of this curious name.
The Church of the Madonna della Pioggia
The façade of the church still shows signs of
ancient frescoes. Once inside, we can observe some important altarpieces painted by artists such as
Agostino Carracci, which represents almost a unicum in the Bolognese scenario. Agostino, who lived between the 16th and 17th centuries, was a very active engraver, while very few of his paintings are to be found.
Another noteworthy work in the church is the
robe of Saint Camillus de Lellis, which we find in a shrine to the right of the altar. Founder of the Camillian Order, which still runs the facility today, St. Camillus dedicated his life to the spiritual care of suffering people. This is why the distinctive sign of the order is a red cross.
Lastly, above the church there is an
oratory dedicated to St Bartholomew, today the site of a school of yoga, which in the past was a place where pilgrims were welcomed and later a Catholic orphanage. The oratory boasts beautiful 16th-century frescoes and a statue of St Bartholomew by Alfonso Torreggiani.
