Palazzo Boncompagni, Renaissance palazzo in central Bologna, Italy.

Palazzo Boncompagni is a Renaissance palace in central Bologna featuring an ornate entrance portal decorated with papal symbols and religious iconography. Inside, a series of decorated rooms and a remarkable helical staircase showcase the architectural skill and artistic vision of the period.

Construction began in 1537 for the Boncompagni family and the building later became the residence of a family member elected as Pope in 1572. This elevation transformed the palazzo into a symbol of how a local family could reach the pinnacle of power and influence.

The papal insignia of Gregory XIII, born Ugo Boncompagni, appears on the 1545 portal, placed there before he was elected pope in 1572. The family's rise is legible on the facade itself, and the palace opens to the public only on special occasions such as the FAI spring days or temporary exhibitions.

The palace is not regularly open: since 2017 it has admitted the public only on particular occasions, such as the spring FAI days or temporary exhibitions. Check those dates before planning a visit, since ordinary guided tours are not offered.

The helical staircase is variously attributed to Baldassarre Peruzzi or to Vignola, and the 1545 portal bears the papal insignia of Gregory XIII, Ugo Boncompagni. Since 2017 the palace opens to the public only on special occasions, such as the FAI spring days or temporary exhibitions; in 2026 it hosts a Michelangelo Pistoletto exhibition.