Santa Maria della Vita

The Basilica of San Petronio is a major church in Bologna, one of the largest brick Gothic buildings in the world. Although construction began in the late 14th century, the building, which was to be larger than St. Peter's Basilica, is largely unfinished since the 17th century.

The Basilica of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano is a Renaissance church built between 1516 and 1694 on top of an ancient church from the 5th century. In 1516, the architect Andrea Marchesi was commissioned to build the present building. The project, which is detailed in the outer portico of the complex, was interrupted at his death. In 1599, the church came under the direction of the Theatines, who completed the construction in the 17th century under the direction of Giovanni Battista Natali and Agostino Barelli.

Most of the present building of the Bologna Cathedral dates back to the 17th century, with some other parts dating back to the end of the 16th century. A cathedral already existed on the site in 1028, on the present Via Indipendenza. It was accompanied by a pre-Romanesque campanile with a circular base. This church was destroyed by fire in 1141. It was rebuilt in 1184 and dedicated to Pope Lucius III. Work on the present building began in 1605. At the request of Pope Benedict XIV, a new façade was added between 1743 and 1747 according to the plans of the architect Alfonso Torreggiani.