 Piazza
Maggiore can be considered as not only the centre but also the heart
of Bologna. It is lined with majestic buildings in the Romanesque
and Gothic style with palazzos, a basilica, an art gallery and a
beautiful fountain. The buildings, which form a major part of this
medieval square, were built between twelve hundred and fourteen
hundred.
One of the most beautiful symbols of this square is the Fontana
del Nettuno (Neptune Fountain). As the name implies it was dedicated
to the sea god Neptune. It is the work of Giambologna between 1564
and 1566. Tommaso Laureti designed the brass sirens at the base.
 Palazzo
del Commune (Town Hall) is at the right side of the square. It was
built in the thirteenth and fourteenth century. It has a beautiful
Bell Tower with a carillon clock. The façade of the palace
stands as a testimony to three major art works: the Madonna di Piazza
by Nicolo dell’Arca, the statue of Pope Gregory XIII and an
eagle attributed to Michel Angelo. The interior of the building
is also very beautiful. It has various treasures including the Museo
Morandi.
 The
church of San Petronio dominates the square. It was designed to
be bigger than St. Peter’s in Rome but as money ran out the
building remained unfinished. Although Antonio di Vincenzo laid
the foundation stone in 1390 the church was built through the centuries.
In fact the semi circular apse was completed only in the middle
of the seventeenth century. The massive side walls have been built
using materials recycled from the nearby-demolished buildings. The
base of the façade has elegant mouldings made of red marble
from Verona and Istrian stone.
 In
1428 Jacopo della Quercia began work on the middle portal. It remained
incomplete even after his death ten years later. However it is magnificent
with beautiful reliefs depicting the Old testament, the New testament
and the Madonna della Lunetta.
The interior of the church is gothic with a nave and two aisles
divided by ten brick pillars supporting arches. There are eleven
chapels in the aisles with polychrome glass windows. There are many
works of art and also a few tombs of the prominent Bolognese citizens
in the chapels.
 In
the main chapel there is a monumental tribune called the Vignola.
Jacopo Barozzi designed it. There is also a sundial on the floor,
which is worthy of attention. There is a Campanile or Bell Tower
that dates back to the fifteenth century. It stands by the external
walls of the last chapel on the right.
On the other side of the square there are many other famous and
important buildings including the Pavaglione, a mass of buildings
whose porticoes serve as a meeting place for the Bolognese and the
Palazzo dell’Ospedale della Morte (the Palace of Death Hospital)
built in the sixteenth century.
 Palazzo
de Re Enzo (King Enzo’s Palace) lies to the east of the square
opposite the church. It was built between 12 44 and 1246. After
his defeat in the battle of Parma in 1248, King Enzo, King Frederick
II ‘s son was imprisoned here from 1249 till his death in
1272.
 The
Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio is close by with its gigantic collection
of 700,000 books, codex and rare manuscripts. It can be considered
as the most important public library in Italy. In the sixteenth
century it was the campus of the University of Bologna. The inside
walls still have the coats of arms of both the Italian and the foreign
students who attended the University. The Teatro Anatomico (Anatomy
Theatre) has walls covered with wooden panels, statues of famous
doctors and figures by Ercole Lelli.
Behind the Piazza Maggiore there are a maze of alleys with a host
of old shops and market stalls. Thus after enjoying a splendid time
at the Piazza Maggiore one can spend a few hours strolling through
these alleys as well to have an overall enjoyable time at Bologna.
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