This ex church now part of the Museo Civico Medievale often contains exhibitions but is also used for meetings. Presently there’s 15th century paintings by Marco Zoppo, Bartolomeo del Tintore, Cristoforo di Benedetto, Garelli, Marchi and Canozi da Lendinara. On the walls are pieces of ancient stone from ruins of buildings around Bologna.

About Il Lapidario

This ex church, known as Il Lapidario, in Via Portadicastello, is one of the rooms of the Medieval City Museum. The entrance is actually around the corner in Via Manzoni. The building though is normally used for special events or even meetings therefore is closed to the public for most of the time.

This footage demonstrates an exhibition of precious religious crosses painted by Marco Zoppo which have originally came from another museum of the church of San Giuseppe dei Cappuccini in Bologna.

There are a few other artists involved such as Bartolomeo del Tintore who was responsible for the late 15th century art work in the displayed books.

Cristoforo di Benedetto completed a painting on wood of the Madonna and Child also late 1400s while Cristoforo Canozi da Lendinara painted a late 15th century one entitled The adoration of the Child Jesus, St Bernardino and angels, and the Eternal Father.

In 1433 Marco di Antonio Ruggiero was born in Cento between Ferrara and Bologna. For artistic reasons he later changed his name to Marco Zoppo. He was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active mainly in Bologna. Zoppo was a pupil of the painter Lippo Dalmasio then in 1453 he worked in Padova for a few years in the workshop of Francesco Squarcione, thus beginning his training under the Bolognese School of painting. He was a contemporary of Andrea Mantegna and in turn also took under his wing another future master called Francesco Francia.

Zoppo’s works of art include a number of Virgin enthroned with infant and saints in Bologna. As his skills matured Marco adapted to the style and culture recognised after the influential artist Piero Della Francescano. Marco Zoppo eventually died in Venice in 1478.

Some time in 1461 Zoppo was commissioned for some art work to which this ancient record shows he was paid 10 Italian Lire for its completion. The work in question was probably for St Bridget’s chapel in the church of San Petronio.

This room holding the exhibition was probably used as a chapel and part of the sacristy room therefore the main room is where the congregation would have sat.

Along the walls are ancient pieces of rock showing capitals and artistic designs – one obviously coming from the old Jewish Quarter of Bologna while others would have been salvaged from church buildings and historic places of interest which may no longer exist.