Santa Maria Incoronata was erected 1465 by Compagnia di Santa Maria Coronata del Suffragio. Modern additions swallowed up the Church which boasts art work, frescoes and decorative elements by famous artists such as Sandoni, Bigari, Gatti, Franceschini, Bibiena, Bertuzzi, Pedretti, Grati, Crocifissi. Istituto Zoni now hosts female students here.

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Chiesa di Santa Maria Incoronata Photos

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About Chiesa di Santa Maria Incoronata

This building literally abuts onto the last defensive walls of the ancient city of Bologna. Inside is the church of Santa Maria Incoronata erected in 1465 by an organisation known as the Compagnia di Santa Maria Coronata del Suffragio. The institute originally dates back to 1405.

Although part of it has been renovated and added to in recent times there’s still quite a bit of restoration needed due to the internal deterioration of plaster and art work.

This art work on the ceiling which includes frescoed decorations were completed by Giovanni Battista Sandoni while the putti were the work of Vittorio Bigari in 1763.

There are three altars in this area. On the left is a very rare crucifixion accompanied with relics encased in glass on either side.

The floor plan inside is quite peculiar because the building suffered bomb damage during WWII but also due to restructuring work many years before and which separated the far end – seen around the balcony where the organ used to be.

The middle altar boasts this large canvas with a smaller inlaid one at the top dating to the late 1300s by Simone dei Crocifissi. It’s believed that it was due to this crowning of Mary where the name of the church of Santa Maria Coronata actually came from.

The third chapel on the right illustrates a painting by Marcantonio Franceschini. The lady on the right is apparently an English Queen although it’s not clear whom.

This room at the far end is the sacristy and boasts decorative art work by Bibiena with figures by N. Bertuzzi. Other noted artists in the church include G. Gatti and G. Pedretti.

In 1798 the religious order that served here was suppressed and the church closed at least to the public. For this reason it became officially recognized as a sanctuary in 1808. Today it’s owned by an institute called Istituto Zoni that continue to host female students studying at the University of Bologna.

References

Marcello Fini, Bologna sacra. Tutte le chiesa in due millenni di storia, Bologna 2007, p151.