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Church · Bolonha, Emília-Romanha
Basilica di Santo Stefano
Group of churches, courtyards and cloister linked together, known as the Sette Chiese. It includes the church of the Santo Sepolcro, inspired by the one in Jerusalem, and the Cortile di Pilato.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Basilica di Santo Stefano
Bolognese people call the complex Santo Stefano Sette Chiese, the seven churches. Today there are fewer buildings than the name suggests, but they all communicate with each other and form a continuous route, from the church of the Crocifisso at the front to the medieval cloister at the back.
According to tradition, Bishop Petrônio, in the 5th century, wanted to reproduce in Bologna the holy places of Jerusalem. The church of the Santo Sepolcro, with a polygonal plan, imitates the rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre and houses an aedicule reminiscent of Christ's tomb. Archaeological studies indicate there was a Roman temple to the goddess Isis beneath the area.
The Cortile di Pilato is a brick courtyard with a large stone basin from the 8th century at its center, associated by legend with Pontius Pilate. The church of Santi Vitale e Agricola, the oldest in the complex, has brick and stone walls from various periods. The two-storey cloister dates from the Romanesque period.
In front of the complex, the Piazza Santo Stefano is triangular in shape, with a stone floor and palaces with porticoes from the 15th and 16th centuries. It is one of the most photographed squares in the city and often hosts antique fairs on some weekends.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
45 minutes to 1 hour to visit the churches, the courtyard and the cloister.
Best time
The complex is quieter in the morning or late afternoon. It often closes at midday; check the opening hours before you go. Please respect any ongoing masses.
How to get there
It is on the Piazza Santo Stefano, about a 7-minute walk from the Piazza Maggiore via the Via Santo Stefano or the Strada Maggiore.
Tip
Shoulders and knees covered. Follow the natural order of the route, from the Crocifisso to the cloister, and be sure to visit the small museum next to the cloister. Entrance to the complex is free.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Basilica di Santo Stefano
Are there really seven churches?
The nickname comes from tradition. Today the complex brings together four churches, the Cortile di Pilato, the cloister and a small museum, all connected to each other.
Do you have to pay to enter?
Entrance to the complex is free. Donations are welcome.
What to see in the Piazza Santo Stefano?
The Renaissance palaces with arcades that surround the triangular square. It's a good place to stop for a coffee after the visit.