Holy Mary Magdalena Church was founded in 1300s along with an adjacent oratory. It was used over the years as an orphanage by the Jesuits but then suppressed in 1798. Destroyed during WWII then rebuilt under Stefano Balzarro. Art work inside by Tiburzio and Batolomeo Passarotti, Bagnacavallo and Torelli including rare paintings from the 1300s.

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Santa Maria Maddalena della Mascarella Photos

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About Santa Maria Maddalena della Mascarella

It’s believed that this Church along with an adjoining oratory were originally founded in the 14th century and over the years was reconstructed many times. The last known reconstruction of the original site was in 1765 by Alfonso Torreggiani.

This first chapel on the left hand side is dedicated to all those who fell during WWII.

The next one here is the chapel of San Omobono and is displayed in quite a contemporary setting.

This chapel of the Madonna illustrates this very beautiful painting under the altar of the St Dominican Order by an unknown author from the 13th century. Above it is this work of art also dating to the same period.

Dedicated to the Crucifix, this chapel shows a fresco from the 14th century above the modern smaller painting.

Santa Maria della Mascarella was consecrated on 7th October 1962 by the Archbishop Cardinal Lercaro. Works of art around the main altar and on either side are attributed to Tiburzio and Batolomeo Passarotti, Bagnacavallo and Torelli.

The origins of the convent and church can be traced back to the canon of Roncisvalle that hosted the Dominican Friars who then transferred to Bologna in 1219, actually where the Basilica of St Dominic is now. This complex also included a hospital established in 1242 for Spanish pilgrims.

In 1532 the hospital and church were taken over by the Magdalena Brotherhood and around the middle of the 1500s it was used as a refuge for orphans. The church was subsequently passed to the Jesuits under Pope Pio IV in the 16th century.

The complex remained active until 1807 when it became the seat for another lay brotherhood and even maintained the orphanage until they were suppressed in 1798 under Napoleon. The orphanage transferred to San Bartolomeo di Reno.

The oratory and church in particular were damaged during the aerial bombardment of WWII. Work to restore the complex began in 1948 under the architect Stefano Balzarro. Shortly afterwards the oratory was officially separated from the church.

References

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