Bologna’s Santo Stefano basilica

Bologna continued to charm through to our last day in town especially with a visit to Bologna’s Santo Stefano basilica.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre Bologna inside Bologna’s Santo Stefano basilica
Church of the Holy Sepulchre Bologna

This basilica was probably the most interesting church we visited in Bologna and inside is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It may have been built in the 5th c, over a temple to the Egyptian god Isis.

Photographing Bologna from San Pietro bell tower
Photographing Bologna from San Pietro bell tower

There are several churches inside this complex and both these and the surrounding district have an architecture decidedly more domestic than most of the city.
We then went to the principal cathedral in Bologna, San Pietro, for a sunset view. San Pietro, like so many churches in the town, has a Baroque interior in this case from the 17th c.

View of Bologna from San Pietro bell tower
View of Bologna from San Pietro bell tower

However literally hidden from site is what may be an original tower from the 10th c inside the largely Baroque exterior of the bell tower. The climb, for me, was less disturbing than the one up to the Asinelli Tower though anyone suffering from claustrophobia may find it a difficult climb.

Crema di Latte Via Amendola Bologna
Crema di Latte Via Amendola Bologna

As the second highest tower in Bologna it gave a fantastic view at dusk.

Crema di Latte on Via Amendola Bologna
Crema di Latte on Via Amendola Bologna

Out of all the Gelato eaten we enjoyed both the welcome and taste at Crema di Latte on Via Amendola (www.CremadiLatte.it) and so made a final visit for another delicious treat.

Author: Tony Walsh

Tony Walsh - author and tour leader through Arabia