Basilica di San Petronio

    Piazza Maggiore, 40124 Bologna BO
    Nub.Art faithful itinerary
    PREVIEW

    Nub.Art faithful itinerary

    40 min

    This itinerary incorporates the content of the web app developed on Nub.Art to introduce visitors to the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna

    Basilica of San Petroni
    PREVIEW

    Basilica of San Petroni

    30 min

    This itinerary tells visitors about the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna.

    Basilica of San Petronio - For Children Have you ever wondered what it feels like to step inside a giant? Well, visiting the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna is a little bit like that! This enormous church is one of the largest in the entire world, and it has so many amazing secrets waiting to be discovered. **Who was San Petronio?** San Petronio was a very important man who lived a very long time ago, in the 5th century — that means more than 1,500 years ago! He was the bishop of Bologna, which means he was like the leader of the Christian community in the city. The people of Bologna loved him so much that they decided to build this magnificent church in his honour and make him the patron saint of the city. A patron saint is like a special guardian who watches over a place and its people. **A Church That Was Never Finished!** Here is one of the most curious things about San Petronio: the church was never actually completed! Construction began in 1390, and even today, if you look at the front of the building, you will notice that part of it is covered in beautiful pink and white marble, while the rest is plain brick. Can you spot the difference? For centuries, people argued about how to finish it, but they never agreed, and so it stayed just the way it is. Sometimes, things that are a little bit unfinished can still be absolutely wonderful! **How Big Is It Really?** The Basilica of San Petronio is truly gigantic. It is about 132 metres long and 66 metres wide — that is longer than a whole football pitch! The ceiling inside is so high that it feels like you are looking up at the sky. When you walk through the huge wooden doors at the entrance, take a deep breath and look around — the space is so vast it might make you feel very small, but in a magical way! **The Sundial on the Floor** One of the most fascinating things inside the basilica is something you might not expect to find in a church: a sundial! But this is no ordinary sundial — it is the longest sundial in the world! It was built in 1655 by a scientist named Giovanni Domenico Cassini. A thin beam of sunlight enters through a small hole high up in the wall and travels all the way down to a long golden line on the floor. By watching where the light falls, scientists could tell the exact time of year and even study the movements of the stars. So this church is not just a place of prayer — it is also a scientific instrument! How cool is that? **The Paintings and Stories on the Walls** All around the inside of the basilica, there are beautiful chapels — small rooms along the sides of the church — each one decorated with stunning paintings and sculptures. These artworks tell stories from the Bible and the lives of the saints. Even if you do not know the stories, you can have fun looking at the colours, the faces of the people in the paintings, and trying to guess what is happening. It is like reading a picture book, but painted by some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance! **A Secret in the Doorway** Look very carefully at the main entrance door. Around it, you will find incredible carvings made by a sculptor named Jacopo della Quercia in the 15th century. These carvings show scenes from the Old Testament, like the story of Adam and Eve, and scenes from the life of Jesus. They are so detailed and so beautifully made that artists who came after, including the famous Michelangelo, came to Bologna just to study and admire them. So next time you walk through a door, remember — sometimes the door itself can be a masterpiece! **Fun Facts to Impress Your Friends** - The Basilica of San Petronio is the **fifth largest church in the world**! - It took **more than 600 years** to build, and it is still not completely finished. - The church is so important to the people of Bologna that the city actually **owns** it — not the Catholic Church. That makes it quite unique! - On a clear day, the sunbeam inside the church travels more than **67 metres** across the floor. **A Living Part of the City** Even today, the Basilica of San Petronio is at the heart of life in Bologna. It stands right on Piazza Maggiore, the main square of the city, where people gather to celebrate, to meet friends, and to enjoy festivals. Every year on the 4th of October, the people of Bologna celebrate the feast day of San Petronio with great joy and pride. So next time you visit, look up, look down, look all around — because in this incredible building, there is always something new and wonderful to discover!
    PREVIEW

    Basilica of San Petronio - For Children Have you ever wondered what it feels like to step inside a giant? Well, visiting the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna is a little bit like that! This enormous church is one of the largest in the entire world, and it has so many amazing secrets waiting to be discovered. **Who was San Petronio?** San Petronio was a very important man who lived a very long time ago, in the 5th century — that means more than 1,500 years ago! He was the bishop of Bologna, which means he was like the leader of the Christian community in the city. The people of Bologna loved him so much that they decided to build this magnificent church in his honour and make him the patron saint of the city. A patron saint is like a special guardian who watches over a place and its people. **A Church That Was Never Finished!** Here is one of the most curious things about San Petronio: the church was never actually completed! Construction began in 1390, and even today, if you look at the front of the building, you will notice that part of it is covered in beautiful pink and white marble, while the rest is plain brick. Can you spot the difference? For centuries, people argued about how to finish it, but they never agreed, and so it stayed just the way it is. Sometimes, things that are a little bit unfinished can still be absolutely wonderful! **How Big Is It Really?** The Basilica of San Petronio is truly gigantic. It is about 132 metres long and 66 metres wide — that is longer than a whole football pitch! The ceiling inside is so high that it feels like you are looking up at the sky. When you walk through the huge wooden doors at the entrance, take a deep breath and look around — the space is so vast it might make you feel very small, but in a magical way! **The Sundial on the Floor** One of the most fascinating things inside the basilica is something you might not expect to find in a church: a sundial! But this is no ordinary sundial — it is the longest sundial in the world! It was built in 1655 by a scientist named Giovanni Domenico Cassini. A thin beam of sunlight enters through a small hole high up in the wall and travels all the way down to a long golden line on the floor. By watching where the light falls, scientists could tell the exact time of year and even study the movements of the stars. So this church is not just a place of prayer — it is also a scientific instrument! How cool is that? **The Paintings and Stories on the Walls** All around the inside of the basilica, there are beautiful chapels — small rooms along the sides of the church — each one decorated with stunning paintings and sculptures. These artworks tell stories from the Bible and the lives of the saints. Even if you do not know the stories, you can have fun looking at the colours, the faces of the people in the paintings, and trying to guess what is happening. It is like reading a picture book, but painted by some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance! **A Secret in the Doorway** Look very carefully at the main entrance door. Around it, you will find incredible carvings made by a sculptor named Jacopo della Quercia in the 15th century. These carvings show scenes from the Old Testament, like the story of Adam and Eve, and scenes from the life of Jesus. They are so detailed and so beautifully made that artists who came after, including the famous Michelangelo, came to Bologna just to study and admire them. So next time you walk through a door, remember — sometimes the door itself can be a masterpiece! **Fun Facts to Impress Your Friends** - The Basilica of San Petronio is the **fifth largest church in the world**! - It took **more than 600 years** to build, and it is still not completely finished. - The church is so important to the people of Bologna that the city actually **owns** it — not the Catholic Church. That makes it quite unique! - On a clear day, the sunbeam inside the church travels more than **67 metres** across the floor. **A Living Part of the City** Even today, the Basilica of San Petronio is at the heart of life in Bologna. It stands right on Piazza Maggiore, the main square of the city, where people gather to celebrate, to meet friends, and to enjoy festivals. Every year on the 4th of October, the people of Bologna celebrate the feast day of San Petronio with great joy and pride. So next time you visit, look up, look down, look all around — because in this incredible building, there is always something new and wonderful to discover!

    20 min

    A journey designed for children to discover the Basilica of San Petronio. From the never-completed façade to the colorful chapels, young visitors will explore one of the most beloved places by the people of Bologna.

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    Basilica di San Petronio