Bologna St Joseph’s Institute
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St Joseph’s Institute Photos
About St Joseph’s Institute
This building used to be called Villa Banzi after the family of the said name. However, when the religious order the Sisters of Sacred Heart of Jesus moved here from Imola on 15th October 1897 it had belonged to the Royal family of Albani. Considering at that time this area was all countryside the villa would have served as a summer house.
It underwent a lot of reconstruction before the sisters took up residence. Most of the façade and some other internal features are original though. These colourful paintings under the eaves were executed at the beginning of the 1900s.
On the wall just before the entrance is this stone plaque in memory of the great musician Rossini who as it states here married his second wife Olimpia Pelissier in the private chapel in this villa. It was witnessed by the celebrated tenor Donzelli, on 16th August 1846.
The main entrance hall here has been more or less kept in its original form including these striking ceiling decorations. Above the main door is this play of words which say: From the mouth of iron, a kiss of gold. It was placed there in 1684 by the original owners called Boccadiferro and refers to their villa as being used to celebrate marriages and baptisms.
There are only two rooms here still in good condition and retaining their original charm. Other features here include 16th century architectonics and even the huge wooden set of front doors is still attached. In fact, the marquis Banzi had it designed with a touch of Swiss style.
The art work here in these rooms is 18th century frescoes especially in this room illustrating countryside scenes. They are reputedly a later period from the school of Pedrini and Martinelli.
This chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart is at the back of this building, opposite the children’s school. The institute was actually set up for the reason to educate girls in theology and accept them into the order. In recent years though, the school opened to the public albeit in a private sense. There approximately 100 children attending it.
With the exception of the general layout here and the magnificently restored ceiling the chapel was completely transformed from its original design. Sante Ghinassi was responsible for the painting above the altar showing the Sacred Heart. It was painted on ceramic tiles.
And finally it’s unsure who the relics in these cases on either side of the altar belong to or perhaps it’s not supposed to made quite so public. Who’s to know? In any case, this is still a private chapel.