The Spanish preacher Domenico di Guzman arrived in Bologna in 1218. Many young people and scholars from all over Europe were attracted to his lessons at the University. He decided to stay in the city and institute a new monastic order whose principal aim was to combine preaching with a simple lifestyle based on poverty and study.
In 1220 the Domenicans obtained the confirmation of their rule and in order to remain in close contact with the city’s inhabitants they used an old church on the then outskirts of the town, San Niccolò delle Vigne. Dominic died in the following year and the friars decided to erect a much larger new church in honour of their companion who had done such a lot for the order and who would be canonised in 1234. The resulting edifice, in a romanesque style, was divided into two parts by a wall, as was usual at that time. One part was dedicated to the monks and the other part was accessible by the townsfolk. Many scholars and nobles expressed a wish to be buried on the site.  Today you can still see the splendid tombs of two important medieval jurists outside the basillica: Rolandino de’ Passeggeri, who was responsible for writing to the emperor Frederick II,  with the refusal to liberate his son King Enzo,  and  Egidio de’ Foscherari. Both of these men had dedicated their life to the study and interpretation of the the legal code Corpus Iuris Civilis.  In 1251 the new church was inaugurated and consecrated  by Pope Innocent IV.

In 1298 the presbytery was enlarged and the construction of a number of chapels on the left side of the complex was begun. Here there was more space since the monastery occupied the land on the right-hand side. The impressive work on these new chapels made it necessary to give increased importance and magnificence to the chapel which housed the tomb of St Dominic. In 1374 work began on the special chapel where his body is still conserved. The sarcophagus containing the relics of St Dominic, “the ark”, is the work of Niccolo Pisano. Between 1469 and 1473 it was enlarged by the artist Niccolò di Puglia, who afterwards became known as known Niccolò “dell’Arca”  in recognition of the quality of his work.  The sarcophagus is the most precious treasure housed inside the Basilica, not only because of its popularity with devoted pilgrims, but also due to the number of important artists who contributed something to the tomb. One of the angels, for example, was sculpted directly by Michelangelo.

There is also another masterpiece to be found within the basilica.  Behind the alter you will find 102 wooden choir stalls, an exquisite example of renaissance carving, with inlaid wood panels (intarsia), which tell stories from the bible (New Testament on the left, Old on the right). 

Glossatori’s grave, photos of Next Asset

They are the work of a friar known as Damiano di Bergamo and were carried out between 1541 and 1549, based on drawings by Jacopo Barozzi di Vignola. The work was terminated by another friar Bernadino di Bologna.

Inside the Basilica of Saint Dominic you will also find the tomb of King Enzo who was held prisoner in Bologna for 23 years and who expressed his wish to be buried close to the relics of the saint he was devoted to.

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