Museo della cattedrale di San Pietro, Religious museum in central Bologna, Italy.

The Museum of the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Bologna displays religious art, liturgical objects, and devotional gifts collected over many centuries. The rooms are located within the cathedral complex and feature works by renowned artists alongside older pieces from different periods.

The cathedral was built on the site of an ancient Roman temple and underwent several major transformations over the centuries. The collection shows objects spanning from early Christianity through the Renaissance, reflecting the site's long religious importance.

The museum keeps the cathedral's reliquaries and liturgical silver, including pieces tied to the cult of Saint Petronius, Bologna's patron saint whose feast is marked each 4 October. Look for the vestments and processional crosses used when the archbishop's procession leaves the cathedral. The collection also holds ex-voto offerings left by the faithful over the centuries.

The museum is located in the old city center and is accessed through the cathedral's main entrance where visitors can ask for directions. It is helpful to allow time to explore the cathedral itself, as the museum rooms are integrated into the sacred space rather than separated.

The gilded bronze rooster in the collection, dating from the 9th century, once stood atop the bell tower of the cathedral's earlier building. It is a rare surviving example of medieval metalwork made to crown a religious structure, and it shows that animal figures served as markers on important churches.