It is located in the complex of the Basilica of Santo Stefano, arranged in four rooms ending with the Chapel of the Bandage. Opened in 1916, it was originally set up by Francesco Malaguzzi Valeri in the refectory. Following rearrangement works, since 1999 it has taken on its current appearance, housing sacred vestments and reliquaries, paintings and frescoes from the Bolognese, Venetian and Tuscan schools between the 13th and 18th centuries (Simone de’ Crocifissi, Michele di Matteo, Alessandro Tiarini), and the reliquary of the head of Saint Petronius, a magnificent goldsmith work made in 1380 by Jacopo Roseto. In the first room there are bas-reliefs from different periods, statues, capitals. In the second room, dedicated to gold backgrounds, detached panels and frescoes from the 14th to 16th centuries, works by Michele di Matteo, Simone de Crocifissi (‘Group of the Magi’ and ‘Crucifix’), Jacopo di Paolo, Giovanni di Zoanello and a ‘Madonna and Child’ attributed to Lippo di Dalmasio are displayed. In the third room, canvases and altarpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries are exhibited, including notable works by Alessandro Tiarini (‘Saint Martin resurrects the widow’s son’), Caccianemici, Ansaloni. From here you enter the “Treasure of Santo Stefano”: two small rooms with collections of sacred goldsmiths’ work and reliquaries, including that of Saint Petronius by Jacopo da Roseto (1380), relics of the Holy Cross from the 17th century, the relic of the Bandage from the 17th century, and other reliquaries, chalices, pyxes, candlesticks, processional crosses, monstrances, all from the 17th to 19th centuries. The fourth room (Chapel of the Bandage) houses the ‘Sancta Sanctorum’ (16th-18th centuries) with the wooden reliquary of Saint Florian (18th century), sacred vestments (18th century) including the mitre of Saint Isidore, and a detached fresco from the 13th century: the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ by Berlinghiero da Lucca. Attached to the museum is a Restoration Laboratory for goldsmiths’ work, books, vestments and sacred furnishings in general.
Information about the Museum of Santo Stefano
Via S. Stefano, 24,
40121 Bologna (Bologna)
051223256
sstefano@libero.it
Source: MIBACT
