French Gothic basilica completed in 1263, featuring soaring vaulted ceilings & ogival arches.
At a glance
#25 of 57 Tourist attractions in Bologna #2 of 6 Churches in BolognaLocalGuideWorld score: 4.60
Rating breakdown
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5 ★71%
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4 ★23%
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3 ★4%
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2 ★0%
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1 ★1%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Basilica di San Francesco?
- Basilica di San Francesco is rated 4.6 out of 5 based on 4,055 reviews.
- How does Basilica di San Francesco rank in Bologna?
- Basilica di San Francesco is #25 of 57 Tourist attractions in Bologna by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Basilica di San Francesco located?
- Piazza Malpighi, 9, 40123 Bologna BO, Italy — 0.7 km from the center of Bologna.
- How can I contact Basilica di San Francesco?
- Phone: +39 051 221762 · Website: sanfrancescobologna.org
This is just one of the amazing churches in Bologna. The Basilica of Saint Francis was founded in the 13th century and it’s just an amazing structure that is still standing. Construction began in the early 1200s and was completed by 1251 and consecrated by the pope in that year the main structure was finally completed in 1263. in the 18th century it was a center for musical performance and study. In 1796 the church was just created and used as a barracks for the occupying forces during the occupation of the French revolutionary army. Don’t know who the architect is but if you look at the exterior façade it reminds me very much of French Gothic architecture a little bit like what I’ve seen at Notre Dame. It’s just beautiful and I hope you make it one of your stops in Bologna.
This is the original home base of the order of Franciscan monks. Beautiful location, but like many Italian tourist destinations it is merely walking and looking at old stuff. There is much beauty though. Best at sunset.
One of the old churches in the city. Behind the church are tombs of important (VIP)persons in 13th Century - unique and unusual
First visit of the year to this church and after a few years of renovation work, the exterior of the building looks much better than it did. All the scaffolding and construction materials have been removed and the elevated tombs seem to have been cleaned.
The interior still has some ongoing work but the church is still and interesting place to visit.
The interior still has some ongoing work but the church is still and interesting place to visit.
Much more than meets the eye! This beautiful Basilica is situated on a street corner and there's a pedestrian path in front, with benches and a small park.
The beauty is mostly inside, especially in terms of architecture and art that's on display. Moreover, there's a spectacular altar in the back.
The size of the Basilica is impressive but there's even more to it, with a large, beautiful inner garden. During weekends, there's an entire flea market open for anyone inside the interior garden.
The beauty is mostly inside, especially in terms of architecture and art that's on display. Moreover, there's a spectacular altar in the back.
The size of the Basilica is impressive but there's even more to it, with a large, beautiful inner garden. During weekends, there's an entire flea market open for anyone inside the interior garden.
A really very nice church both externally and internally. For those wondering, it's free, there is no entrance fee, like all the churches in Bologna
It was nice from the outside, pretty busy place usually and free entrance. It's not a lot to visit but it's pretty nice.
Most interesting as this is first Franciscan church in Bologna and there are 3 tombs in the back suspended as monuments.
The first Franciscan conven in Bologn
The presence of the Franciscans in Bologna dates back to the beginning of the century and spread rapidly in the city, already famous as if it belonged to the university and in constant economic and demog rise. In 1211, by the will of St. Francis, in fact, the noble da Quintavalle was sent to Bologna, belonging to a rich family of merchants and cars and representative of the municipality of Assisi, who, after having met S. Franc, had renounced to all their possessions to follow "Madonna Poverty". In 121 ri from the city walls, in a place corresponding to the current plazza dei Marti if the first Franciscan settlement in Bologna called Santa María del gliole. The rapid increase in the number of those who joined the Franciscans was favored by the repeated stops that the Saint from Assisi made in Bologna. In fact g
1221 S. Francesco, during the return journey from the East, headed towards Bolo a. And the following year he returned to preach in Piazza Maggiore.
Perhaps inspired by the apostolic work carried out by the Dominicans through the sign opened at their convent, the Friars Minor invited St. Anthony of Padua - known for his profound doctrinal knowledge of him - to hold a course of studies in the city or town. In 1223 S. Antonio settled in Bologna and, for a year, held lessons in the wind of S. Maria delle Pugliole. The fame of his doctrine and the effectiveness of his edication attracted numerous scholars, some of whom later held ecclesiastical and monastic positions.
With the increase in the number of followers of St. Francis, the Minors expressed their desire to have a larger convent complex closer to the city at their disposal. For this reason, and thanks to the interest of Pope Gregory IX and the trocino of the municipal authorities, in 1236 the construction of a new land church began to be made available to the friars: a large plot located just outside the Stiera gate. While the church was being built, the construction of the conventual rooms (chapter house, dormitories, schools, library) was also started at the same time.
In June 1796, the Napoleonic troops forced the friars to abandon their headquarters. The church was used as a customs house and the monuments preserved in it were removed or transported to the Certosa. The paintings, mostly of a high pictorial level, together with the library volumes and archival documents, were transferred elsewhere. From 1886 to 1900 the convent complex and the church were affected by a
Considerable restoration work directed by Alfonso Rubbiani (1848-1913), who opted and implemented a restoration of the building in a neo-medieval sense, reconstructing Corative and structural parts and, unfortunately, landing almost all the chapels that opened along the western side of the church .
Huge damage also caused the Second World War: in 1943, a bomb hit the upper part of the facade and seriously damaged the left aisle. Till 1949, the church was restored to its original state again.
The first Franciscan conven in Bologn
The presence of the Franciscans in Bologna dates back to the beginning of the century and spread rapidly in the city, already famous as if it belonged to the university and in constant economic and demog rise. In 1211, by the will of St. Francis, in fact, the noble da Quintavalle was sent to Bologna, belonging to a rich family of merchants and cars and representative of the municipality of Assisi, who, after having met S. Franc, had renounced to all their possessions to follow "Madonna Poverty". In 121 ri from the city walls, in a place corresponding to the current plazza dei Marti if the first Franciscan settlement in Bologna called Santa María del gliole. The rapid increase in the number of those who joined the Franciscans was favored by the repeated stops that the Saint from Assisi made in Bologna. In fact g
1221 S. Francesco, during the return journey from the East, headed towards Bolo a. And the following year he returned to preach in Piazza Maggiore.
Perhaps inspired by the apostolic work carried out by the Dominicans through the sign opened at their convent, the Friars Minor invited St. Anthony of Padua - known for his profound doctrinal knowledge of him - to hold a course of studies in the city or town. In 1223 S. Antonio settled in Bologna and, for a year, held lessons in the wind of S. Maria delle Pugliole. The fame of his doctrine and the effectiveness of his edication attracted numerous scholars, some of whom later held ecclesiastical and monastic positions.
With the increase in the number of followers of St. Francis, the Minors expressed their desire to have a larger convent complex closer to the city at their disposal. For this reason, and thanks to the interest of Pope Gregory IX and the trocino of the municipal authorities, in 1236 the construction of a new land church began to be made available to the friars: a large plot located just outside the Stiera gate. While the church was being built, the construction of the conventual rooms (chapter house, dormitories, schools, library) was also started at the same time.
In June 1796, the Napoleonic troops forced the friars to abandon their headquarters. The church was used as a customs house and the monuments preserved in it were removed or transported to the Certosa. The paintings, mostly of a high pictorial level, together with the library volumes and archival documents, were transferred elsewhere. From 1886 to 1900 the convent complex and the church were affected by a
Considerable restoration work directed by Alfonso Rubbiani (1848-1913), who opted and implemented a restoration of the building in a neo-medieval sense, reconstructing Corative and structural parts and, unfortunately, landing almost all the chapels that opened along the western side of the church .
Huge damage also caused the Second World War: in 1943, a bomb hit the upper part of the facade and seriously damaged the left aisle. Till 1949, the church was restored to its original state again.
Do step into the basilica, which is very special
indeed, with its mosaics that can be seen under water. The Basilica of San Francesco was originally consecrated to the Holy Apostles and then to Saint Peter, and dates back to the middle of the 5th century AD.
However, little or nothing remains of the old church, which was repeatedly restored over the centuries. In particular, from 1261 to 1810, and again between 1949 and today, the Franciscans chose it as their seat with the current name of St Francis.
During the restoration works in 1921 – concomitantly with the 6th centenary of Dante’s death – a lot of changes were carried out, and the Baroque superstructures were removed, giving back to the church its austere linearity, characteristic of the 14th century and more in keeping with the sensibilities of the Franciscan order.
indeed, with its mosaics that can be seen under water. The Basilica of San Francesco was originally consecrated to the Holy Apostles and then to Saint Peter, and dates back to the middle of the 5th century AD.
However, little or nothing remains of the old church, which was repeatedly restored over the centuries. In particular, from 1261 to 1810, and again between 1949 and today, the Franciscans chose it as their seat with the current name of St Francis.
During the restoration works in 1921 – concomitantly with the 6th centenary of Dante’s death – a lot of changes were carried out, and the Baroque superstructures were removed, giving back to the church its austere linearity, characteristic of the 14th century and more in keeping with the sensibilities of the Franciscan order.
As a student in Bologna, I know this place because so many of the younger generation would spend the night in front of this Basilica, I have spent my share of time on the benches close to this place and I’ve been in the bars surrounding the environment. If you go with your friends in the crowded night, or in the day, you will have different valuable experiences. There may be some people there that sell beer but as for the rest of the city your interaction with them is up to yourself.
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