Bologna San Francesco Vaults
San Francesco Vaults Photos
About San Francesco Vaults
San Francesco Vaults
Facing out towards Piazza Malpighi are a few mausoleums located within the perimeter of the Church of San Francesco. They are a testimony to the long tradition of connections between the basilica here and Bologna University.
These tombs which are in fact at the rear of this gothic church date to the 13th century and belong to distinguished glossatori, more commonly known as law professors.
The first one here belongs to Accursio who died in 1265 and his son Francesco. This plaque under the tomb simply records the names of those interred here along with other relevant details of their lives.
The next one contains the remains of Odofredo Denari.
The surrounding area here was probably part of a bigger graveyard as would have been custom during the Middle-Ages. Suffice to say that only those who could afford such extravagant memorials like the glossatori could survive the ravages of time.
The last one along belongs to Rolandino dei Romanzi who died in 1284. It’s probably the most beautifully decorated. Four small iconic lions of marble sit on the corners of the mausoleum while miniature faces stare out in all directions from the capitals.
References
Tiziano Costa – Marco Poli, Conoscere Bologna, Bologna 2005, p293.
Tiziano Costa, Elisa Panzacchi, Welcome to Bologna, Bologna 2007, p27.
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