Basilica of San Domenico

"The Basilica of San Domenico is one of the churches in Bologna with the richest art history and was built by the Dominican Friars as a place to preserve the remains of San Domenico di Guzman, founder of the order who arrived in Bologna around 1200. Inside are preserved priceless works of art by artists such as Guercino, Filippino Lippi and Ludovico Carracci. In the Chapel of San Domenico stands the ark embellished with sculptures by Michelangelo, Nicola Pisano, Alfonso Lombardi and surmounted by a marble cymatium modeled in 1469-73 by Niccolò da Puglia known as “dell’Arca”, also author of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ preserved in the church of Santa Maria della Vita. A masterpiece of Renaissance inlay is the wooden choir by Fra’ Damiano da Bergamo, defined by contemporaries as the eighth wonder of the world and also admired by Emperor Charles V. The church also has a bell tower, built in 1313 in Gothic style and 51 meters high. While the Convent of San Domenico houses the Library with a collection of 90,000 volumes on themes of philosophy, theology, history and Dominican spirituality."

"The basilica is home to some absolute treasures, none more so than the altar sculptures by Michelangelo, While the exterior is austere in the Romanesque style, the interior is most definitely Baroque, extravagantly and opulently decorated. Look out for the huge marble sarcophagus which houses the relics of the saint, impressive in itself but more so for the sculptural figures which surround it. These include three hidden works by Michelangelo: the two figures of San Petronio and San Procolo and the angel candle-holder figure, all of whom can be found at the back of the tomb alongside others by Nicola Pisano. "

"Basilica di San Domenico is dedicated to St. Dominic, founder of the order of Dominican friars. He’s also credited with creating the rosary. The church includes work by Michelangelo."