San Petronio Basilica, Minor basilica in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy.
San Petronio is a large church in Bologna, Italy, rising on Piazza Maggiore with a reddish-white marble facade and a three-nave interior supported by tall pillars. The facade remains unfinished, with the upper sections showing bare brick, while the portal is decorated with relief work.
Construction began in 1390 under Antonio di Vincenzo, who had studied cathedrals in Florence, Venice, and Milan. Work continued over centuries, and the building remained unfinished due to lack of funds and political changes.
The name honors the city patron of Bologna, and the two bell towers hold bells that once regulated daily urban life. On feast days, processions leave from the side entrances and move through the streets, while candles lit by visitors glow inside the side chapels.
The building opens its doors daily on the main square, and guided tours help visitors spot details in the chapels and ceiling. Comfortable shoes make it easier to explore the large interior, as the floor has sections at different levels.
A narrow brass line runs along the floor of the left aisle, installed by Cassini in the 17th century and serving as a sundial. At noon, a ray of light falls through a small hole in the vault onto the line, marking the seasons.
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