Maggiore Square is one of the most beautiful squares in Bologna. Piazza Maggiore, which is said to be the heart of Bologna, is surrounded by the most important administrative and religious buildings in the history of Bologna.
Palazzo dei Notai in the square is one of the important structures of the region. Known as the notary public’s building, this building was designed in 1381 by the city’s notary guilds, Berto Cavalletto and Lorenzo da Bagnomarino. A part of the building facing Piazza Maggiore that leads to Palazzo D’Accursio was restored in 1437 by Bartolomeo Fioravanti. Palazzo dei Notai was restored in 1908 by Alfonso Rubbiani.
The Basilica of San Petronio, which is also located in the square and is the 15th largest church in the world, was on the agenda of the world in 2002 with a completely different event apart from its architecture and history. Al-Qaeda planned to take action against this church, which is 132 meters long and 65 meters wide. Italian police arrested 5 people who were planning to blow up this historical building. The most impressive church in Bologna, the Basilica of San Petronio was built in 1388.
Maggiore Square
In place of the church built by Antonio di Vincenzo, in 1514, another architect proposed to build a larger church based on the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, but the Pope did not approve such a large structure. There is a giant sundial on the east side of the basilica. Thanks to this watch designed by Gian Cassini and Domenico Gugliemi in 1656, anomalies in the Julian calendar were discovered, and this discovery led to the concept of “Year”.
Another important structure of the square is the Palazzo dei Banchi. Previously, merchants and bankers used to carry out their business around this building, known as the Palace of Banks. As a matter of fact, trade revolved in this region. Between 1565 and 1568, merchants who wanted to create a pleasant architecture in this area commissioned Vignola to build today’s Palazzo dei Banchi. Palazzo dei Banchi arouses admiration with its portico.
- Address: Piazza Maggiore, 40124 Bologna BO
- Directions: Those who want to come by train can use the trains numbered S2 A, S2 B and S4 A. For buses, you should choose buses numbered 13, 14, 20, 25, 27, 29 and 39.
- Nearby Places: Portico di San Luca, Biblioteca Salaborsa, Basilica di San Petronio
