The Archiginnasio is one of the most important buildings in the city of Bologna. Once the main building of the University of Bologna, it currently houses the Archiginnasio Municipal Library
History
The construction of the Archiginnasio dates back to the 16th century, when Piazza Maggiore was drastically remodeled under papal orders; the Fountain of Neptune was built during this same period.
The construction of the Archiginnasio was commissioned by Pope Pius IV through the papal legates Charles Borromeo and Pier Donato Cesi during the years of the Council of Trento. The Legates then entrusted the project to Antonio Morandi (known as il Terribilia), who finished the construction between 1562 and 1563. The goal of this project was to localise various faculties, spread at that time throughout the city, in one single place. The building has two floors. Upstairs, the old classrooms now closed to the public:
- the Reading room used by the Artists
- the Sala dello Stabat Mater (named in honor of Gioacchino Rossini) used by those studying Law
- the Anatomical Theatre, for the teaching of anatomy.
The Archiginnasio became the main building of the 'Studium', as the University of Bologna was first called, from 1563 until 1803, when it became the location of the Institute of Science.
In 1838, one section of the Archiginnasio was given to the Archiginnasio Municipal Library, the largest library in Emilia-Romagna. It houses important historical, philosophical, political, literary, artistic, biographical and bibliographical texts as well as an extensive section dedicated to Bologna's culture. The library holds around 35,000 manuscripts among other objects. Upon entering, visitors are asked to hand over all bags and writing materials which can be retrieved when leaving.
The building is made up of two levels, with a lower portico and inner courtyard that surround the former church of Santa Maria dei Bulgari. The walls of the building form an enormous heraldic complex, made up of seven thousand coats of arms hanging on its walls. The coats of arms indicate the home country or city of the student, along with the student's name.
Curiosity
- The upper level still houses the Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio, which was built in 1637 by Antonio Levanti. It is shaped like an amphitheater and made from fir wood, with a coffer ceiling, and decorated with statues. It is overlooked by the ornate seat of the professor, topped by a baldaquin and supported by the statues of two naked and skinless men, known as "gli spellati" (the skinned ones), made by the painter and sculptor Ercole Lelli.
- The numerous sculptures that decorated the walls represent doctors from ancient and modern times: the busts are for people considered of lesser importance, while the more eminent and celebrated ones are represented in full. The two main statues, from left to right, represent Hippocrates and Galen, the most prominent physicians of Greece and Rome, respectively.
Visiting Archiginnasio
ADDRESS: Piazza Galvani, 1, Bologna
OPENING TIMES:
Anatomical Theatre and Stabat Mater Room
- Monday to Friday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
- Saturdays from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
- Sundays and bank holidays from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
Courtyard
- Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
Ticket: 3 Euro
PHONE: 051 276811
WEBSITE: www.archiginnasio.it
EMAIL: archiginnasio@comune.bologna.it
Map from Park View B&B to Archiginnasio
