Bologna Cathedral

The Cathedral of San Pietro in Bologna is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Bologna. It is situated on Via Independenza.

History

A church existed in 1028, witnessed by a pre-Romanesque bell tower with a circular outline ( following the example of Ravenna). The church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1141 and by Pope Lucius III. rebuilt in 1184 and re-consecrated.

1396 the facade was enriched by a Protyrus ( portico ), which was renovated in 1467.

On the orders of Cardinal Gabriele Paleotti the building in 1575 was renovated from the ground up. However, the intervention was so radical that the vault collapsed in 1599.

1582 San Pietro was by Pope Gregory XIII. became a cathedral.

The portico was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century and got 1743-1747 on the orders of Pope Gregory XIV a new facade designed by architect Alfonso Torreggiani.

Equipment

Today, the interior is in a baroque style of a majestic effect. Among the artworks are remarkable proclamation of Ludovico Carracci, a fresco between the rear glass windows of the transept, a Romanesque Lamentation of citrus wood and a group of figures made ​​of clay Cristo morto con le Marie piangenti ( Dead Christ with weeping women ) by Alfonso Lombardi (start of 16th century ).

Organs

In the cathedral there are two large organs. The organ on the West Stand was built in 1935 by organ builder Giuseppe Rotelli ( Cremona ). The instrument has 49 registers on three manuals and pedal ( plants ). The special feature is that any manual work is assigned to an independent pedal work. The tracker action is electro-pneumatic.

Built in 1997, the organ builder Paccagnella another major organ. The instrument is located in the northern side of dealing between the second and third side chapel. The organ has 54 registers on three manuals and pedal. The Spieltrakturen are mechanical, the Registertrakturen are electric.