Basilica of San Domenico
Basilica di San Domenico
The resting place of St Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, whose tomb has three small statues carved by a young Michelangelo.
The Basilica of San Domenico was completed in the 13th century. It contains the marble tomb of St Dominic (Arca di San Domenico), completed by successive masters including Nicola Pisano. Three small statues on the tomb, of an angel holding a candle and of Saints Petronius and Proculus, were made by Michelangelo when he was 19. The inlaid wooden choir stalls are also beautiful. Entry is free, but the church closes for about two hours at midday. In the square in front of the church are two medieval tombs of legal scholars with columned canopies. It is about an 8-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:30–12:00, 15:30–18:00; open Sunday afternoons (check church notices)
Nearby sights
- Archiginnasio of Bologna
- Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna
- Basilica of San Petronio
- Palazzo Pepoli – Museum of the History of Bologna
- Santa Maria della Vita
- Quadrilatero
- Piazza Maggiore & Fountain of Neptune
- Santo Stefano (Seven Churches)