It is the largest brick-built Gothic church in the world. As a Basilica, however, it is the fourth largest in Italy (after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Milan Cathedral, and Santa Maria Novella in Florence) and the sixth largest in Europe... #tuttitaly
The Basilica of San Petronio is an essential place of worship and a symbol of the city of Bologna. Its construction began in 1390 and was directed by Antonio di Vincenzo. However, the church was never completed according to the original design, which envisioned a size even more significant than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
The basilica's facade remained unfinished, but it was partially clad in marble by Giacomo Ranuzzi starting in 1538. Inside, the three aisles open onto twenty-two chapels decorated by artists such as Francesco Francia, Lorenzo Costa, Parmigianino, and Donato Creti.
One of the most famous points of interest in the basilica is the Musical Chapel of San Petronio, founded in 1436 and considered the oldest musical institution in Bologna. The chapel is famous for its organ, built around 1470 by Lorenzo da Prato, the oldest functioning organ in the world.
Another highly visited chapel is the Chapel of the Magi, whose walls were sumptuously frescoed by Giovanni da Modena with depictions of Paradise and Hell.
Finally, the basilica houses the meridian of astronomer Cassini, which, at 67.27 meters, is the longest in the world. This meridian is an essential instrument for measuring time and the solar year.
Therefore, the Basilica of San Petronio is a place of great historical, artistic, and cultural importance, attracting numerous visitors every year.
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