Documented since 1391 at the center of the newly established castle, the Church of San Petronio serves as the parish church of the town.
Its dedication to Bishop Petronio, patron of Bologna, emphasized Bolognese authority and cultural influence over the new settlement.
Around 1428, the structure was renovated with the enlargement and reconfiguration of the interior spaces, likely in response to the growing local population. A few years later, the bell tower was added.
The current church results from reconstruction carried out between 1783 and 1786 following an earthquake, designed by the papal architect Cosimo Morelli, interpreter of a sober Neo-16th-century style and also author of the nearby Church of Santa Maria della Misericordia. The wide nave is covered by a large barrel vault with faux coffered panels.
The first chapel on the left houses the terracotta group of the Visitation by Alfonso Lombardi, flanked by the figures of Saint Lawrence and Saint Jerome in penance by the same artist, dating around 1525, characterized by monumental solidity combined with attentive naturalism in the Northern Italian tradition.
Among contemporary works, the church also preserves the Madonna with the Little Bird, a bronze sculpture by Angelo Biancini from 1960.
Opening Hours
Weekdays: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Holidays: 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
For information and guided tours, contact the Museo Civico di Castel Bolognese - tel. 0546 655828
Immerse yourself in the history of the castle
