Description

This church was built by the Augustine Fathers in 1267. In the 15th century the Bentivoglio chapel was added, and was probably designed by Pago di Lapo Portigiani. The church's façade is monocuspidate, and has a Romanesque portal decorated with carved lions which is crowned by a niche containing a statue of Saint Giacomo. To the sides of the entrance you can see four mortuary niches. There is a beautiful renaissance style portico which runs along the lefthand side of the church. The portico was built in 1477 on the request of Giovanni Bentivoglio. San Giacomo Maggiore's Basilica contains some of the most important masterpieces of Bolognese art by famous artists such as Fontana, Laureti, Ludovico Carracci, Gaetano Gandolfi, Passarotti, Cesi, Mazza, etc.. Even Goethe became speechless when he saw this magnificent place of worship .