Bologna Chiesa di San Paolo di Ravone
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Chiesa di San Paolo di Ravone Photos
About Chiesa di San Paolo di Ravone
The naming of this church is directly connected with the River Ravone because it runs quite close to it although covered over for the most part by streets and roads. It wasn’t far away that Etruscan tombs were discovered a few years ago between Certosa Cemetery and Via Nino Scota. Roman tombs were also found in Via Brizio opposite the church. For a brief while this area became known quite aptly as Street of the Tombs.
The first evidence that a church existed in this area appears around the year 990. At that time there was a church located here by the river which also happened to be the home to a group of nuns who were said to have survived from alms and charitable donations. It was dedicated to ‘all’Apostolo delle genti San Paolo’ meaning ‘St Paul’s – The People’s Apostle’.
This first chapel to St Joseph on the right hand side aisle here displays a painting of St Joseph by Professor Fabio Fabbi while another Professor Pietra was responsible for the decoration around it in 1934. This next one shows a bronze copy of the crucifixion by Giambologna. Professors Gentili and Roversi completed the works of art in 1934 on each side of the chapel.
One of the main attractions and valuable religious artefacts here is this Crucifixion by an unknown artist. It’s from the end of the 1600s. Not so long ago it was restored by the Laboratorio SOS ART.
At the side here is this chapel to St Antonio Bosco displaying paintings by Professors Costa 1938 and Ansaloni 1988.
On the 26th April 1896 a meeting was held with the heads of leading families in the area to discuss building a bigger church. In 1899 permission was finally granted to begin work. The intervening years before work began illustrated quite clearly how difficult it was commence any new plans particularly regarding the funding of such grand projects. To make matters more complicated the old church was vulnerable to flooding. Of course one prominent figure amidst all of this was that of the local priest and first to serve in the new church: Don Giuseppe Palmieri. He was also instrumental in raising finance among the parishioners and served the role of parish priest 1878-1914.
Around the transept here are names inscribed on the marble sides for the donation of 200Lira which in today’s money would be approximately 10cents, hardly enough to buy one cigarette but over 100 years ago would have been a fortune. Further on are more names shown to have contributed 500Lira and which perhaps not coincidentally, are closer to the main altar.
Cardinal Domenico Svampa witnessed the ceremony of laying the first stone on 4th November 1899. The chief engineer of the project was Ceri who planned the architectural plans of the new church around that of the old one.
The project was not without controversy either. On 8th December 1900 during the ‘bandiga’ which was a local Bolognese festival to celebrate the opening of a new building it became apparent to all that the firm chosen to build it was behind schedule. In fact, it would take another 4 years for them to complete it.
On the 4th October 1904 it was finally opened to the public although it was still lacking the front portal and some windows.
Along this left aisle is the chapel of the Madonna of Consolation which is dedicated to the Augustinian Order who were part of the original church until 1655. Other Professors who contributed here include Baldi, Mandrone and Nardi.
Just inside the entrance are two water fonts on each aisle beautifully sculptured from white marble. At the foot of each one are the words: Per Magnificent Papa Benedetto XV dated 1919. Above it is the Papal Coat of Arms.