Description of the attraction
Palazzo Poggi is one of the main palaces of Bologna, which today houses the Museum of the University of Bologna. This huge complex of Renaissance buildings was erected in the mid-16th century on the instructions of the Poggi brothers, Alessandro and Giovanni. It is interesting that Pope Benedict XIV also provided financial assistance in the construction. Pellegrino Tibaldi worked on the creation of the facade, although some of its parts are the work of Bartolomeo Triakini.
In 1614 the Palazzo was sold to the Prince of Montecuccoli, and in 1672 it was rented by the Marquis Francesco Azzolini, who furnished the rooms with luxurious furniture. Then, for several years, the palace passed from hand to hand, until in 1711, at the insistence of the influential Luigi Marcilla, the Scientific Institute was located here. A year later, the construction of an astronomical observatory began nearby, which later became one of the largest in Europe. It was designed by Giuseppe Antonio Torri and completed in 1725 by Carlo Francesco Dotti. Well, after the temporary closure in 1803 of the University of Bologna, Palazzo Poggi housed administrative offices and various museum collections, demonstrating the most modern scientific achievements of those years.
Right at the entrance to the palace, there is a door leading to the auditorium named after one of the most famous natives of Bologna, the poet Giosué Carducci. It contains a small collection of articles, photographs and other documents related to the period of university history when Carducci taught there. His portraits hang on each wall - for example, the one behind the teacher's table was painted in 1901. In the corner there is a copy of Angelo Pio's Hercules, and next to it is a small office, which displays the traditional costumes of the professors.
Along the main corridor is a small courtyard attributed to Triankini. In the center stands the original statue of the aforementioned Hercules. Among the decoration of the courtyard, it is worth noting the profiles in the style of Roman Mannerists and the pediment windows, placed at the same distance from each other. Here you can also see the busts of those who in different years played an important role in the history of the university.
