The Basilica
and the Chapels
Despite its great size (132 metres in length, 60 in width and 44 in height), the Basilica has a harmonious and balanced appearance that tempers the sometimes exaggerated verticality of the Gothic style, interpreting it in a wholly original way.
Built between 1390 and 1663, the Basilica of San Petronio represents one of the most majestic and significant examples of Italian Gothic cathedral architecture.
Despite its large dimensions (132 metres in length, 60 in width and 44 in height), the Basilica has a harmonious and balanced appearance that tempers the sometimes exaggerated verticality of the Gothic style, interpreting it in a wholly original way.
Built between 1390 and 1663, the Basilica of San Petronio represents one of the most majestic and significant examples of Italian Gothic cathedral architecture.
Despite its large dimensions (132 metres in length, 60 in width and 44 in height), the Basilica has a harmonious and balanced appearance that tempers the sometimes exaggerated verticality of the Gothic style, interpreting it in a wholly original way.
Explore the Basilica of San Petronio like never before. Discover its hidden corners and observe its wonders from unique and spectacular perspectives thanks to drone footage.
The 22 side chapels of the Basilica of San Petronio
Visit the chapels
formerly Santa Maria de’ Rustigani
Chapel of Our Lady of Peace
This chapel was once dedicated to Santa Maria de’ Rustigani. It houses a sculpture of Our Lady of Peace (1394) carved in Istrian stone by the German sculptor Giovanni Ferabech.
formerly Pepoliformerly Pepoli
Chapel of Saint Bridget
The principal work in this chapel is the precious polyptych (1477) painted on panel by Tommaso Garelli.
Also of great interest are the votive paintings on the side walls of the chapel.
formerly Marsili
Chapel of Saint Ambrose
The fresco polyptych above the altar (c. 1474) is attributed to Jacopo di Cristoforo Moretti. It depicts Saint Ambrose in the centre and two military saints (possibly Proculus and Florian) at his sides.
formerly of the Society of Notaries, now Rinaldi
Chapel of the Holy Cross
On the altar stands a Crucifix painted on a shaped wooden panel, created by Ercole Banci at the beginning of the 16th century.
The chapel’s stained-glass window was executed between 1464 and 1466 by the Dominican friar Jacob Griesinger (Giacomo da Ulma).
formerly Garganelli, then Ratta, and later of the Fabbrica
Chapel of Saint Lawrence
The chapel was renovated in 1908, when the large window was reopened and, above the altar, a bust of Saint Lawrence by Giuseppe Romagnoli and the painting of the Pietà (1519) by Amico Aspertini were installed.
formerly Castelli
Chapel of Saint Jerome
The altar features a gilded wooden altarpiece from the first half of the 16th century. The panel, depicting Saint Jerome in his chair (1484) surrounded by almost metaphysical architecture, is a work by Lorenzo Costa.
formerly Fantuzzi, then of the Fabbrica
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
The decoration of the Chapel of Immacolata is completely modern (1908-1951). The design was conceived by the painter Achille Casanova based on the oldest statue of the Immaculate Madonna (1725).
formerly Ramazzotti, then Malvezzi Campeggi
Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
Of particular importance are the inlaid choir stalls, set against the side walls, executed between 1513 and 1521 by the monk Raffaele da Brescia.
formerly Saraceni, then Cospi
Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua
The chapel preserves, unified and intact, the decorative scheme executed between 1524 and 1526 by the painter and sculptor Girolamo da Treviso.
The artist created both the statue of Saint Anthony above the altar and the cycle of oil paintings on the walls depicting the miracles of the Saint.
Also noteworthy is the monumental stained-glass window, created in two different phases. In an initial phase, around 1518, based on designs by Pietro Vannucci, known as “Perugino,” the rose window with Saint Anthony, the two lights with the Annunciation, and the four decorative elements in the ogival sections were executed.
In the second half of the 16th century, based on a design by Pellegrino Tibaldi, the eight saints were subsequently added.
formerly of the Society of Butchers
Chapel of Saint Peter Martyr
The splendid altarpiece portrays the Madonna and Child in Glory between Saints Petronius and Dominic. The martyrdom of Saint Peter is depicted in the background. The work was painted by Bartolomeo Passarotti around 1580.
formerly Zambeccari
Chapel of the Relics
Once a sacristy, this space was transformed into the chapel of the Zambeccari family in 1746.
On the altar, a niche preserves a large number of relics in carved and gilded wooden reliquaries, mostly dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
belonging to the Fabbriceria
Chapel of Saint Bernardino
The chapel is fronted by a transenna made in 1909 based on a design by Achille Casanova. In the same year, the 18th-century altarpiece and the wooden statue of Saint Bernardino (unknown artist from the 15th century) were placed here.
formerly of the Sixteen Reformers, then of the Senate of Bologna, and later of the Municipality
Chapel of Saint Barbara
The large altarpiece depicting the Glorification of Saint Barbara and the Punishment of her Murderous Father (c. 1606) is the work of Alessandro Tiarini.
formerly Barbazzi, then Manzoli, and finally Zucchini
Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel
The Archangel Michael Driving Out the Demon, painted on canvas, is dated 1582 and signed by Denys Calvaert, also known as Dionisio Fiammingo, a painter of Flemish origin who was later adopted by Bologna.
formerly Ranuzzi, then Malvezzi
Chapel of Saint Roch
The altarpiece depicts Saint Roch with the dog and the patron (possibly Fabrizio da Milano). The canvas was painted in 1527 by Francesco Mazzola, known as il ‘Parmigianino’.
formerly Rossi, then Baciocchi
formerly Rossi, then Baciocchi
Above the altar shines the beautiful panel painting by Lorenzo Costa, dated 1492, depicting the Madonna and Child enthroned with Saints James, Jerome, Sebastian and George.
formerly Griffoni, then Cospi, and finally Ranuzzi
Chapel of Saint Vincent Ferrer
Vittorio Bigari created the large tempera on canvas depicting Saint Vincent Ferrer, framed by the monumental decorative surround by Stefano Orlandi, executed between 1725 and 1729.
Above the altar, the Madonna and Child in Glory is attributed to Ippolito Scarsella, known as “Scarsellino” (1551–1620).
The screen was built in 1896, reusing the terracotta colonnettes that had stood between the columns of the Church of the Calvary in the Basilica of Santo Stefano complex from 1475 to 1880.
formerly Vaselli, then Bevilacqua
Chapel of Saint Sebastian
The decoration of this chapel, in a unified Renaissance style, was carried out between 1487 and 1497 at the request of the canon Donato Vaselli.
Above the altar hangs the large painting depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.
formerly Santa Brigida, belonging to the Foscarari family, then of the Fabbriceria
Chapel of Saint Ivo
The chapel is an example of sober and luminous late Baroque style.
On the right wall, a fragment of an earlier decoration (1438–1440) by Pietro di Giovanni Lianori was rediscovered in 1934.
formerly Bolognini, then Salina Amorini
Chapel of the Magi
The Chapel of the Magi is particularly fascinating because it is the only chapel in the Basilica that preserves its rich and complex original decoration, created in the early years of the church’s construction, that is, at the beginning of the 15th century.
The red Verona marble transenna, bearing the Bolognini coat of arms, was made around 1400 based on a design by Antonio di Vincenzo.
Jacopo di Paolo painted the monumental wooden polyptych carved by an unknown artist (perhaps Tommasino da Baiso), known as the “Master of San Petronio.”
In the predella, di Paolo depicted the stories of the Magi, while the corner pilasters portray saints and prophets.
Jacopo di Paolo also designed the large polychrome stained-glass windows in the chapel (1404-1406). The rose window displays Christ in Glory, while the two minor eyes portray the Annunciation. The apostles and the four evangelists are portrayed below.
formerly Cospi, then Aldrovandi
Chapel of Saint Petronius
This chapel is an excellent example of Bolognese Baroque architecture.
It is especially known for housing the head and body of Saint Petronius.
The saint’s head is preserved in a monumental reliquary donated by Pope Benedict XIV. The reliquary, made of partially gilded silver and lapis lazuli, is enclosed in the gilded bronze ‘glory’ above the altar. Both the reliquary and the glory were made by Roman silversmith and sculptor Francesco Giardoni.
formerly of the Ten of Balìa, then of the Province
Chapel of Saint Abbondio
The inscriptions on the screen commemorate two historical events that took place in the Basilica: on 4 October 1392, the first Holy Mass was celebrated; on 24 February 1530, Charles V of Habsburg was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement VII and, in this chapel, he donned the imperial mantle.
The symbolic frescoes (1420) on the side walls — Triumph of the Church over the Synagogue and Allegory of the Redemption — are by Giovanni da Modena.
It is possible to request visual material relating to the Basilica of San Petronio.
To submit a request, download and complete the form and send it by email to
archivio.storico@basilicadisanpetronio.org