The basilica of St Dominic and its adjacent convent constitutes one of the most monumental buildings of Bologna. St Dominic de Guzmán himself, once arrived in Bologna on January 1218, after the approval of the Dominican Order by Pope Onorius III, decided to establish the seat of the Order exactly where the basilica later arose. In 1219 he fixed his domicile in the convent of St Nicholas. Here, between 1220 and 1221 (year of his death), he held the first two General Chapters of the order, in which its fundamental elements were outlined. Between 1219 and 1243, the basilica and St Nicholas were transformed into a large convent. The church was enlarged throughout the demolition of the apsis and the expansion of the aisle, while a plain Romanesque facade, overlooking the pretty square in the front, was built up. From that moment onwards, the church of St Dominic became the model of numerous Dominican churches in the world. In the church, various artworks were collected in time. Among these are works of Giunta Pisano, Nicola Pisano, Arnolfo di Cambio, Niccolò dell'Arca, Michelangelo, Iacopo da Bologna, Guido Reni, Guercino and Filippino Lippi.
Basilica di San Domenico
Piazza San Domenico, 13
40124 Bologna
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