Oratory of Santa Cecilia (Oratorio Di Santa Cecilia)
Via Zamboni 15, Bologna, ITA
Don’t be fooled by the simple facade of this oratory tucked beneath the portico along the length of the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore. Inside, the small chapel is decorated with some of the most important works of the 16th-century Bolognese Renaissance, painted by prominent artists in the Bentivoglio court.
A visit to this Romanesque chapel built by Giovanni II Bentivoglio is a must for art lovers, who will appreciate its exquisite frescoes that showcase the mastery of some of Bologna’s most important Renaissance artists, including Lorenzo Costa, Francesco Francia, Amico Aspertini, and Raffaello Sanzio. Stretching over 10 panels, the elaborate scenes depict the life of Saint Cecilia and her husband Valerian; the church’s main altarpiece is now displayed in the National Gallery of Bologna.
Join a walking or bike tour of Bologna’s historic center to take in the oratory along with other city highlights, such as the Basilica of Santo Stefano, Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio, the Two Towers, and the Church of San Domenico.
Wear modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees to visit the oratory and other churches in Bologna.
Photography without flash is allowed inside.
The oratory is accessible to wheelchair users.
A visit is especially interesting for Renaissance art enthusiasts.
The oratory is in the heart of Bologna’s historic center, beneath the portico along the side of the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore. It's an easy walk from the city’s train station and main sights.
A visit to this quiet oratory is a welcome respite from the crowds in Bologna’s main square and larger churches during the busiest hours of the day; the oratory closes briefly at 1pm.
Begun in 1505, the oratory’s Renaissance frescoes cover the walls to the right and left of the oratory entrance. The paintings recount 10 episodes in the life of Saints Cecilia and Valerian during the 3rd-century reign of Urbano II, when they were martyred for refusing to recant their Christian faith.
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