Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio and Anatomical Theatre

Why is it significant?

Gaze upon the magnificent Renaissance porticoes of Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio, commissioned in 1562 by Pope Pius IV and executed by architect Antonio Morandi, known as Il Terribilia.

Key Facts

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Gaze upon the magnificent Renaissance porticoes of Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio, commissioned in 1562 by Pope Pius IV and executed by architect Antonio Morandi, known as Il Terribilia. Built to unite the scattered schools of law, medicine, philosophy, and arts of the University of Bologna under a single prestigious roof, this palace served as the primary seat of the world's oldest university until 1803. The walls, vaulted ceilings, and grand staircases of the courtyard are adorned with over six thousand painted coats of arms, commemorating aristocratic student leaders and distinguished professors from across Europe, forming the largest heraldic decorative collection in the world. The rich heraldry reflects the international prestige of Bologna's intellectual community during the Renaissance. The vast courtyards and upper arcades echo with centuries of academic excellence, where celebrated scholars from every corner of the continent gathered to master civil law and anatomical science.

Climb to the upper floor to enter the breathtaking Anatomical Theatre, crafted entirely from fragrant spruce and cedar wood in 1637 by Antonio Levante: tiered wooden benches rise around a central white marble dissection table where medical students once observed human dissections by candlelight. Flanking the professor's ornate chair stand two lifelike wooden statues of skinless men known as Gli Spellati, carved by Ercole Lelli in 1734 to illustrate human muscular anatomy with astonishing precision.

In the wall of the Anatomical Theatre, a small hidden peephole allowed officials from the Holy Inquisition to secretly monitor dissections and academic lectures, ensuring that medical professors did not utter theological heresies regarding the human soul.

Notice the ceiling of the theatre: an exquisite statue of Apollo, god of medicine and healing, presides over the fourteen constellations of the zodiac carved into the wooden coffers.

Exit into Piazza Galvani and make your way northeast into the bustling medieval alleys of the Quadrilatero food market.