Italy Guide
Emilia-Romagna
San Petronio
Opening time: daily: winter 7.30am–12.30pm & 3pm–6pm; summer 7.45am–12.30pm & 3.30–6pm
Address: Piazza Maggiore
The church of San Petronio is one of the finest Gothic brick buildings in Italy. This enormous structure was originally intended to have been larger than St Peter's in Rome, but money and land for the side aisle were diverted by the pope's man in Bologna towards a new university and plans had to be modified. The end result looks a little strange at first glance, with the beginnings of the planned aisles on both sides of the building clearly visible. There are models of what the church was supposed to look like in the museum (Mon– Sat 9.30am–12.30pm & 2.30–5.30pm, Sun pm only; free). Note that you are not permitted to take backpacks into the church, and there are no storage facilities provided.