According to the oldest sources, the Cathedral of St Peter’s, the residence of the Archbishop, was commissioned by the town council in the year 910. Over the centuries it has undergone much rebuilding and transformation. The original church was destroyed during a fire in 1141, while an earthquake in 1222 lead to the construction of a Gothic building. The edifice we see today was begun in 1605 when the cathedral was rebuilt entirely, eliminating any trace of the earlier structures.
In the 10th century the cathedral was the only church in the city that was able to exercise pastoral care.”

The Statue of St. Peter © Beni Culturali Arcidiocesi di Bologna

The name of the Church leads us to believe there were links between this church and the Church of Rome, at least in the early years of Christianity even though in the fourth and fifth centuries it passed under the power of Milan and then Ravenna.

In 1582 Gregory XIII made Bologna an episcopal diocese and the cathedral was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan church (which means the archbishop had power over other local dioceses). At the back of the cathedral you can see the Palace which houses the Archbishop’s administration.

St. Peter’s Cathedral

In 1605 father Magenta, a Barnabite monk from Milan took up the direction of the rebuilding work. He greatly admired Tibaldi’s Cappella Maggiore and only added two extra chapels which were terminated in 1748 by Alphonso Torreggiani who was also responsible for the new façade. The large statues of St Peter and St Paul are the work of Agostino Corsini and the Flemish sculptor Pietro Verschaf.

Madonna Vladimirskaya © Beni Culturali Arcidiocesi di Bologna

Just behind the main door you can find two red marble lions. These were sculpted by Ventura da Bologna and were originally part of an external portico. They are probably the only remaining elements of the old church.

In the niches at the two extremes of the central nave you will find statues by Lorenzo Sarti who was also responsible for those on the inside of the main entrance.

In the spring of the year 2000 copy of the icon Madre di Dio Vladimirskaja the emblem of Russia, that according to tradition was painted by St Luke, was blessed in Moscow and donated by patriarch Alessis II and is now housed in the cathedral.

Bell Tower of St. Peter’s Cathedral © Mi.Ti.

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