NIGEL'S RAMBLES: Corpses in Bologna

It is late October and that means my annual visit to the SAIE building fair in Bologna to catch up on the latest products and maybe discover something new. Up until a couple of years ago it was necessary to spend a whole day there just to see the sectors that I am interested in. Now thanks to the crisis in the Italian building industry, in an afternoon I covered the whole fair. So I decided that the morning would be spent rediscovering this beautiful city and then after lunch I would head out to the fair.

The first destination on my list of things to see was the “Palazzo dell ‘Archiginnasio” which was is the site of Europe’s oldest university founded in 1088. The actual building dates from 1562. The whole building is decorated in almost every corner with the heraldic crests of ex students and their teachers. There are more than 6000 of them. The most interesting thing to see in this building is the Teatro Anatomico where corpses would be dissected during lessons on anatomy. This room dates from 1645 and the professors desk high above the table is flanked by two rather gruesome skinned men. If one is in Bologna this is a place that must be visited. For more on this place: http://www.archiginnasio.it/english/html/palace.htm

Palazzo del'Archiginnasio, Bologna.

Nearby is the market area of Bologna with some impressive food shops, it is nice to stroll through the bustle of its narrow streets.

L'antico mercato del Quadrilatero, Bologna

The main characteristic of Bologna is its porticoed streets, that protect passersby from the hot sun in summer and the wet in winter. It is possible to walk from the centre to the city walls with almost always a portico protecting you from the elements. I spent some time wandering about the backwaters of the city in characteristic streets such as Via Saragozza.

Bologna

Piazza Maggiore is the heart of Bologna with the massive Palazzo D’Accursio and the city Cathedral San Petronio. We also find the statue of Neptune here, one of the symbols of the city.

Palazzo D’Accursio, Bologna

Palazzo D’Accursio,Bologna

Bologna

One of the most fascinating places to visit is the religious complex of Santo Stefano also known as the “Seven Churches” which dates from the fifth century. The columns from the original church can still be seen enclosed in the circular structure that dates from the twelfth century. Attached is another eleventh century church with recycled Roman stone columns. The rest is a maze of chapels and a large chorister. Particularly moving is the chapel dedicated to the pilots of the air force who died in service that has it walls covered in photographs of the fallen.

Piazza Santo Stefano, Bologna

Complesso Santo Stefano, Bologna

It was now time for lunch so I headed to the University area of the city to find somewhere cheap to eat.This is an anarchic part of the city with the mix of youth culture and ancient palaces.