Bologna San Paolo in Monte Church + Cloister
San Paolo in Monte Church + Cloister Photos
About San Paolo in Monte Church + Cloister
This complex which includes a church, cloister and convent was established in 1403 according to a Papal Bull of Bonifacio IX. In 1407 Antonio Budrio donated the money needed to build and by 1417 the building work was completed.
In the entrance to the convent are these intimidating busts of Franciscan monks and saints completed from the 1500s up until the 20th century. The main first exhibit here shows St Francis of Assisi. The terracotta statue was made by Angelo Piò in 1769.
A stair well next to the entrance displays several paintings all recently restored and dating from the 1700s.
In 1431 the convent was host to revered characters such as San Bernardino da Siena, San Giovanni da Capestrano and over the years many other people. Although the convent became a center for learning and culture it was not so easy for the monks to reach the people. Therefore in the 1300s it was decided to build a church at the foot of Via dell’Osservanza which consequently lead to this convent becoming a place for retirement and prayer.
At the top of the stairs is the Kinder College. Theology is taught here for children from Emilia Romagna. It’s also home to the Harpsichord Association of Bologna where they often host various concerts.
Back downstairs is this small cloister with precious terracotta sculptures on display. These first ones of the Immaculate Mother and St Joseph with the baby Jesus were executed by Filippo Scandellari mid 1700s.
Much more important in a historical sense are the 15 stations of the cross along this wall. Completed in 1771 by Domenico Piò and Gaetano Pignoni they were inserted in pillars along the road leading here – just like today although the present ones are of course copies. They were restored in the workshop of Patrizia Cantelli and as with most works of art here paid for by local banks or associations.
This statue of Mary the Immaculate by Angelo Piò dates to the 18th century while the one of St Francis is attributed to Scandellari and this late 1700s sculpture of St Leonard by Giacomo Rossi. Just behind it is a door into the church where another wealth of art work and history unfolds.
In 1811 the lawyer Antonio Aldini had the two original churches here torn down to make way for a Bolognese retreat for Napoleon who as it happened never set foot in the villa. Donations were sought from the citizens of Bologna and on 13th July 1828 this Neo-classical building was completed by Vincenzo Vannini.
Along this right hand side aisle are works of art above the altars including from the Bolognese school dating to the 17th century, one from the 1500s by Gaudenzio Ferrari, a copy of Francesco da Rimini’s 15th century painting – the real one is in the museum upstairs, and various others from the 1600s.
The monks misfortune hadn’t ended with Napoleon either because they were forced to abandoned the building again in 1867 according to a new Italian state law. When they returned in 1880 more work had to reinstated to restore it from water leakages and general damage.
On the left hand side aisle from the top are paintings from the school of Parma, Domenico Pedrini, a 17th century Holy Family – the original being in France, a copy of Orazio di Jacopo’s Crucifixion from 1445 – the original is upstairs while other works here date from 16 -17th centuries by Elisabetta Sirani, Marco Fantuzzi and Scandellari.
The work of creating the main altar here was done by the hands of Vincenzo Ansaloni. High up on the right is this painting of Franciscan Saints by Girolamo Gatti early 1700s – he was a pupil of Franceschini. On the opposite wall is a baroque work by Carlo Cignani.
The two angels just under the dome here are guarding the monogram of St Bernard illustrating the symbol of this Osservanza order. Underneath them is a huge painting of The Fall of St Paul. It dates to around early 1600s and is thought to be attributed to Carlo Bononi or Luca Ferrari.
The beautiful wooden choir is from 1840. The organ is originally from 1847 but has been restored many times.
Next door is the winter chapel. A very small but cosy environment decorated with more paintings. Behind the door is Cignani’s St Peter while right next to it is a 15th century Crucifixion by G.Morina. Smaller, antique and equally valuable paintings from the 1700s sit comfortably beside larger works of art in this room.
This 1400s work in the corner is thought to have been done by an artist from Ferarra. Other artists from the 1500s on, displayed on these walls include Antonio Campi and Giacomo Cavedoni.
Through this door is the corridor leading to the sacristy. Several works of art here are by Filippo Pedrini whose paintings reveal important noble residences in Bologna. Another artist here is the 18th century painter Antonio Beccadelli.
One of the most beautiful and only original rooms here is this sacristy. Among the best works of art recently restored here are these two dating to the 1700s by Antonio Magnoni and Antonio Crespi. Even the floor to ceiling cupboards are original.
Towards the top of the room is a small altar displaying the Madonna grieving over the dead body of Christ by Nicola Bertuzzi late 1700s. And finally, above the solid, ancient doors guarding these treasures is a work executed by Orazio Samacchini late 16th century.