Palazzo Fantuzzi
Built in 1521, a few years after the Pope seized the city, Palazzo Fantuzzi overlooks one of Bologna's main streets, Via San Vitale.
The palace was built at the behest of the Fantuzzi family, part of the local senatorial aristocracy, and allegedly designed by Formigine. According to some scholars, the building should be attributed to Sebastiano Serlio instead.
Its main features are certainly the two bas-reliefs in the shape of elephants bearing a castle on their backs and inserted on the main façade, hence the name 'palace of the elephants'. It seems that the presence of the elephants is to be traced back to the family name itself: Fantuzzi would in fact derive from the nickname 'elefantuzzi'.
Another peculiarity of the façade are the inscriptions on the plinth, dating back to the Second World War period, indicating in black and white the nearest air-raid shelters and emergency numbers to call during bombing raids.
Interior decorations
Visible only on special occasions, Palazzo Fantuzzi features magnificent vaults frescoed by Gioacchino Pizzoli, Angelo Michele Colonna Francesco Bibiena and many other artists. The latter, together with his family, was a very important artist for Bologna. The
Bibiena, who worked both as architects and as stage designers, were responsible for the city's Municipal Theatre.
Angelo Michele Colonna, on the other hand, was entrusted with important commissions outside Italy, such as some decorations in the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Palace of Versailles, which made him a much appreciated and sought-after artist by the patrons of the time.
Another noteworthy element in the palace is the staircase created by Paolo Canali in 1680. Canali worked extensively in and around Bologna; his projects include the restoration of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Via Galliera and the interior façade of
Palazzo d'Accursio, in the main courtyard. Between 1654 and 1681, in San Giovanni in Persiceto he designed the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, one of his most acclaimed works.
What to see near Palazzo Fantuzzi
Once you have admired the palace, you should also explore its surroundings. There are in fact many significant sites in this area of Bologna, starting with the
Torresotto in via San Vitale. This building was part of the city's second circle of walls, known as the Torresotti, dating back to the 11th century. Today, the Torresotto overlooks Piazza Aldrovandi which once belonged to the moat that surrounded the city centre.
Another interesting building on Via San Vitale is the
church of Santi Vitale e Agricola in Arena, the place where the two saints were martyred. It is also believed that the city's ancient Roman amphitheatre stood right here.
