Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
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Neighbourhood: Santo Stefano
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,373 reviews
Excellent
959
Very good
337
Average
58
Poor
7
Terrible
12
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Miriam E
42 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This church was the last stop of our stay in Bologna, I am really happy that we managed to visit it. Even though the sculpture group requires a fee, it is worth seeing. The support of the audio guide is important to understand the history of the church and the Lamentation.
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArtsyGalBaltimore
Maryland847 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Visited the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita in order to see the human drama portrayed in Niccolo dell'Arca's Lamentation of Christ, which is on the side altar. To do so you must buy a 9 Euro ticket, which provides discount at other participating Bologna museums. Up a flight of stairs, one also finds the death of the Virgin Mary with 15 terraccota statues.
Written 8 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francesco Maria Carducci
San Gemini, Italy679 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
The Church of Santa Maria della Vita, a few meters from the Cathedral of San Pietro, constitutes, together with the Oratory of the Confraternita dei Battuti above, the main Baroque architecture of Bologna.
It was built in the 18th century and, inside, in addition to the stuccos, you can admire the splendid sculptural group of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ from 1463 by Niccolò dell'Arca.
On the upper floor, you enter the splendid Oratorio dei Battuti, home of the Confraternita dei Battuti, built in 1617 based on a design by Filippo Ambrosini.
The single nave room, in an exceptional state of conservation, features wonderful stucco work and sumptuous baroque decorations, very rare in Bolognese buildings of worship.
Not to be missed inside, in addition to the splendid paintings, is a further terracotta sculptural group, representing the Transit of the Virgin, created by Alfonso Lombardi in 1612.
The stucco work is concentrated, in particular, in the apse area.
The visit is absolutely recommended.
It was built in the 18th century and, inside, in addition to the stuccos, you can admire the splendid sculptural group of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ from 1463 by Niccolò dell'Arca.
On the upper floor, you enter the splendid Oratorio dei Battuti, home of the Confraternita dei Battuti, built in 1617 based on a design by Filippo Ambrosini.
The single nave room, in an exceptional state of conservation, features wonderful stucco work and sumptuous baroque decorations, very rare in Bolognese buildings of worship.
Not to be missed inside, in addition to the splendid paintings, is a further terracotta sculptural group, representing the Transit of the Virgin, created by Alfonso Lombardi in 1612.
The stucco work is concentrated, in particular, in the apse area.
The visit is absolutely recommended.
Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK1,86,579 contributions
May 2023
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita is a Baroque and Rococo style church in the historic centre of Bologna. A church has been here since the 13th century, although the current church was only built in the 17/18th century. The church has an elliptical plan, topped with an elliptical dome. The interior is very compact with chapels surrounding the nave in close proximity. Each chapel is designed with a Baroque painting as its centrepiece, but mainly with rococo style mouldings. The one exception is the Chapel of St. Rita (I think), which has a sculpture of Madonna with Child as well as a recently installed memorial to another nun. One of the chapels I think has the Tomb of Bonaparte Ghislieri, a senator of Bologna who also commissioned the Hours of Bonaparte Ghislieri. The high altar is again Baroque, but without any hint of Rococo. The centrepiece of the high altar is Byzantine art inspired painting of Madonna with Child, crowned with a physical silver crown.
The pièce de résistance of the church is the clay sculptures of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell'Arca. Visits to this requires an entrance fee, but is totally worth it.
The pièce de résistance of the church is the clay sculptures of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell'Arca. Visits to this requires an entrance fee, but is totally worth it.
Written 21 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antoncarth
High Wycombe, UK834 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
This church is nice and interesting, typical gothic architecture like the most of the churches in Bologna. It’s open to public and free to visit.
On the other hand it costs €5.00 to visit the Orattorio dei Battuti, who is located at far end of the church. I would say it doesn’t worth to pay €5.00 to see the Oratorio. I would rather only see the free space of church.
On the other hand it costs €5.00 to visit the Orattorio dei Battuti, who is located at far end of the church. I would say it doesn’t worth to pay €5.00 to see the Oratorio. I would rather only see the free space of church.
Written 1 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JJJC_Family
Virginia793 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
From the outside, this church does not look like much. Get inside and it’s much. It’s an impressive, attractive and tasteful interior. And if you go upstairs you will find a collection of fairly bizarre statues that nonetheless are extremely intriguing and represent great talent. I can’t lie to you that I did not spend a considerable amount of tome looking at it. I did. What makes this church so different than almost all others I have seen is the juxtaposition of a pretty conservative, traditional, even restrained appearance for the main part of the church and even the room that the statues occupy and with this truly jarring, avant-garde exhibition in the same church. Strangely, I respected that decision to combine the two. Somehow, it worked on a spiritual and artistic level. It’s not new and apparently it is famous. I think you owe to yourself to check it out.
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelaround59
London, UK2,032 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
I could see a church dome from Piazza Maggiore so I decided to walk there just to see what it was and I am glad that I did that because inside the un assuming facade there is a wonderful example of Barocco! Finally a church, for me, finally balanced and the little inside is a gem of discovery. As usual in Bologna you do not get the biggest artists of the Renaissance (as in Rome or Florence or Venice) but the paintings are very pleasant as well the carvings and the statues…very nice indeed!!!
Written 31 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,642 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
This church is a stone's throw from San Petronio. Built in 1687-1690, it has an unusual elliptical shape. The dome of the church was erected only a century later, and the facade was completed only by 1905. The main thing that is watched in the church is Niccolo del Arca's masterpiece "Mourning for Christ". Which, unfortunately, I didn`t see...
Written 13 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Uncut Diamond
Bologna, Italy77 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Immersing yourself in the magical atmosphere of the Church of Santa Maria della Vita is like embarking on a journey into the heart of art and spirituality in the heart of the Quadrilatero, the lively historic center of Bologna.
Outside, a modest facade hides a treasure of beauty and devotion waiting to be discovered. Once you cross the threshold, you find yourself surrounded by a Bolognese baroque setting, with the majestic dome designed by the famous Bibiena, a work of art in itself.
The fulcrum of this experience is the famous Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell'Arca, a fifteenth-century sculptural masterpiece that evokes a profound sense of emotion and reverence. The expressive terracotta figures, including the Madonna, Mary Magdalene and Saint John, convey pain and suffering with an intensity that touches the heart of every visitor.
Next to the church, the Oratory offers another artistic jewel with the sculptural group of the Transit of the Virgin by Alfonso Lombardi, while the Healthcare and Assistance Museum reveals the fascinating history of healthcare in Bologna through ancient instruments and evocative paintings.
The beauty of this church is not only limited to art and history, but also extends to the tranquility and spirituality that can be felt here. It is a haven of peace in the chaos of the city, where you can immerse yourself in moments of contemplation and reflection.
For those who wish to have an authentic and meaningful experience during their visit to Bologna, the Church of Santa Maria della Vita is an unmissable stop. Let yourself be carried away by the emotion and beauty of this extraordinary place, and take with you memories that will last forever.
Outside, a modest facade hides a treasure of beauty and devotion waiting to be discovered. Once you cross the threshold, you find yourself surrounded by a Bolognese baroque setting, with the majestic dome designed by the famous Bibiena, a work of art in itself.
The fulcrum of this experience is the famous Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell'Arca, a fifteenth-century sculptural masterpiece that evokes a profound sense of emotion and reverence. The expressive terracotta figures, including the Madonna, Mary Magdalene and Saint John, convey pain and suffering with an intensity that touches the heart of every visitor.
Next to the church, the Oratory offers another artistic jewel with the sculptural group of the Transit of the Virgin by Alfonso Lombardi, while the Healthcare and Assistance Museum reveals the fascinating history of healthcare in Bologna through ancient instruments and evocative paintings.
The beauty of this church is not only limited to art and history, but also extends to the tranquility and spirituality that can be felt here. It is a haven of peace in the chaos of the city, where you can immerse yourself in moments of contemplation and reflection.
For those who wish to have an authentic and meaningful experience during their visit to Bologna, the Church of Santa Maria della Vita is an unmissable stop. Let yourself be carried away by the emotion and beauty of this extraordinary place, and take with you memories that will last forever.
Written 19 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alessandro S
Bologna, Italy4,674 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
The mourning is amazing and it alone is worth the price of the ticket. The upper part of the church is also of considerable interest. It's a shame that the health museum is no longer present as this was the hospital of life for centuries. I hope for a future reorganization.
Written 2 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
quanto costa il biglietto per visitare il Compianto?
Written 19 April 2019
I am afraid i cannot answer that for you, if it where me, i would try contacting the nearest tourist office, you can find them online nowadays, i have had need to do this on my travels. good luck.
Written 3 March 2018
What is dress code to go in sanctuary ?
Written 30 August 2015
I was not aware of a formal dress code on my visit but it makes sense to just dress respectfully with no bare shoulders or shorts, as other contributers have suggested. This will likely only be an issue in summer months.
Written 31 August 2015
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