Statue of Pope Gregory XIII, Statue in Bologna, Italy
The Statua di Papa Gregorio XIII is a bronze statue at the entrance of the Palazzo Comunale in Bologna, depicting the pope in full papal dress. It stands on a stone base and was created by Giambologna, one of the most renowned sculptors of the late Renaissance.
The statue was put in place around 1580, shortly after the pontificate of Gregory XIII, who is known for reforming the calendar. During the Napoleonic period, it was temporarily converted into a depiction of the city's patron saint, San Petronio, to protect it from being melted down.
Pope Gregory XIII was born in Bologna, and the city has always considered him one of its own. The statue stands at the entrance of the Palazzo Comunale, facing Piazza Maggiore, where daily life in the city center unfolds.
The statue stands at the entrance of the Palazzo Comunale, clearly visible from Piazza Maggiore and easy to spot as you walk through the square. You can walk around it from several angles, and morning visits tend to be quieter.
To protect the statue during the Napoleonic occupation, the people of Bologna attached a marble plaque to its head identifying it as San Petronio, with the inscription "Divus Petronius Protector et Pater". This plaque stayed in place until 1895, when the papal symbols were restored.
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