Description of the attraction
The Church of San Giacomo Maggiore was once part of the monastery of the same name, founded by the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine in Bologna and existed until the early 19th century. The order itself was founded in 1247, and already in 1267 its novices built a monastery around the parish church of St. Cecilia and laid the foundation for the church of San Giacomo Maggiore. True, the church was finally completed only in 1344.
For many years, the most influential families of Bologna provided protection and support to the monastery. In 1437, in the church of San Giacomo Maggiore, Anton Galeazzo Bentivoglio was buried, who belonged to a noble family, in whose hands all the secular power of the city was concentrated. A hundred years after the funeral, his great-grandson decided to rebuild the grave, which led to a large-scale restructuring of the entire church. In those years - in the middle of the 15th century - the famous artists Lorenzo Costa, Francesco Francia and Amico Aspertini worked on the decoration of the church, whose frescoes on the walls of the temple can be seen even now.
At the end of the 18th century, the monastery was closed, as it lost its significance as a scientific center, and some of its premises were later transferred to the Bologna Conservatory. However, many buildings of the ancient monastery have survived to this day - this is not only the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore with chapels and chapels, but also courtyards, a wide front staircase, a dining room and a library.
The construction of the church was started from the western facade - it has best preserved its original appearance. On it you can see a small edikula with a statue of Jesus Christ, and there is a round window above the central entrance. The facade acquired its present appearance in the 16th century.
In 1336, a bell tower was built, to which several levels were added a century and a half later, and between 1477 and 1481 a portico was built along Via Zamboni, which gave a single look to the entire complex. By that time, the Church of St. Cecilia had actually become part of San Giacomo Maggiore.
The Bentivoglio Chapel deserves special attention, in which the very same Anton Galeazzo and members of his family are buried. It is made in red and blue colors - the heraldic colors of the Bentivoglio family, and its walls are painted by Lorenzo Costa.
