Bologna Journals

Museums and Towers

A July 2004 trip to Bologna by jmhp

Quote: The capital of Emilia Romagna is not only a more than convenient traveling base, but it should also be visited for the sake of its own monuments. It is easily visited on foot, since all the most important sights are situated in the historical centre of the city.

Museums and Towers

Overview

Quote:

The capital of Emilia Romagna is not only a more-than-convenient traveling base--it is also a city that should be visited for the sake of its own monuments. It is easily visited on foot, since all the most important sights are situated in the historical centre of the city. The places you can visit include: Churches San Domenico, with the impressive tomb where the relics of the saint are housed San Francesco, fist Italian example of the French gothic style San Giacomo Maggiore, one of the finest Gothic churches in the region San Giovanni in Monte San Luca, which has amazing panoramic views San Martino, founded by the Carmelites in ...Read More

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Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (National Art Gallery)

Attraction | "Pinacoteca Nazionale"

Quote:

Pinacoteca Nazionale in Bologna was one of the few actual museums I visited in the city. I must admit I was somewhat surprised that the National Paintings Gallery’s situated in such a relatively less-known city. However, perhaps it is justified, since the museum has one of Italy’s premiere collections of art dating back to 13th till 18th century.

Situated in the former Jesuit monastery, the museum was founded in 1796 when the city’s authorities assembled all the works of art Bologna possessed in one place in order to prevent their being moved to France. The collection has been further enriched with numerous private donations.

Needless to say, the 29 exhibition rooms of the art gallery offer to the visitors a fine collection of paintings of the local school of painting, with Carracci (three of them – Lodovico, Annibale, and Agostino), Francesco Albani, Guido Reni (‘The Slaughter of the Innocent’, ‘Estasi di Santa Cecilia’), Domenichino, Guercino, Francia, Jacopino di Frnacesco (St. Jacob at the Battle of Clavijo), and Pellegrino Tibaldi among the most prominently features artists. It would be very wrong, however, to say that the gallery is limited to the ‘local’ art, however fine that may be. Among other well-known artists represented there are:

a) Raphael Santi: St. Cecilia
b) Tintoretto
c) Titian
d) Vitale da Bologna: St. George and the Dragon, painted between the year 1335 and the year 1340

Out of all the rooms, rooms 1 to 3 are dedicated to the art of 1300s; rooms 4 and 5, to the art of 1300s and 1400s; rooms from 6 to 8, to the frescoes of the 1300s. The large section from room 9 to room 15 is the Renaissance sector, with room 15 especially dedicated to Raphael Santi. Among other featured rooms there are #23, with painting by Carracci, #24, with works by Guido Reni, and rooms 25 to 28, showcasing the baroque art. There is also a room dedicated to the museum’s director in the 1950s.

The art gallery is situated at Via delle Belle Arti (appropriately named street, I have always thought), 56. If you do not fancy walking, buses number 36 and 37 stop quite nearby. The Pinacoteca does not have very visitor-friendly opening hours, being permanently closed on Mondays and opening only from 9am till 2pm Tuesday through Saturday and shutting its doors one hour earlier on Sundays and public holidays. An admission fee is required, and–-contrary to what happens in many other museums–-you are allowed to take photos. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 1, 2005

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (National Art Gallery)
Via Belle Arti, 56
Bologna, Italy 40126
39 051243222