The church of San Giorgio in Poggiale, of ancient Longobard origins, was designed and built between 1589 and 1633 by architect Tommaso Martelli and entrusted to the Servite Fathers until 1798. Its name derives from the street it overlooks (today Via Nazario Sauro), known until 1919 as Via del Poggiale. In 1882, the church was entrusted to the Jesuits, who remained there until its partial destruction following the air raid of 25 September 1943. Never reopened for worship and definitively deconsecrated, stripped of its furnishings and works of art, between 1959 and 1962 the church ran the risk of being demolished.
Acquired by the Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna, it underwent careful restoration and was reopened to the public in 2009 as the custodian library of the Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna Foundation's extensive library holdings.
San Giorgio in Poggiale houses important works of contemporary art: Campo dei Fiori and the latest monumental Delocazione by Claudio Parmiggiani, as well as the Cattedrale cycle by Piero Pizzi Cannella.
The Library, whose layout was designed by architect Michele De Lucchi, is also the venue for exhibitions and cultural events, as well as being open to the public by appointment for the consultation of materials and the loan service. The library's holdings include 100,000 books, 60,000 of which are part of fonds, the result of purchases, testamentary legacies or donations, and consist mainly of volumes on local history and art history. The newspaper and periodicals library includes titles and titles of various kinds from the end of the 18th century to the present day. The photographic archive consists of a nucleus of approximately 60,000 phototypes, divided into several fonds.
The San Giorgio in Poggiale Art and History Library is part of the Genus Bononiae museum centre.
Map
Biblioteca d’Arte e di Storia di San Giorgio in Poggiale
Via Nazario Sauro, 20/2 – 40121
Telephone: +39 051 19936352
Email: biblioteca@genusbononiae.it
Site/minisite/other: https://genusbononiae.it/en/san-giorgio-in-poggiale-library-of-art-and-history/
Entrance
Free
Interests
- Art & Culture
Details
Accessibility
Hearing Disabilities
Access and orientation present no difficulties for hearing-impaired visitors.
There are no room sheets or captions, as this is a historical library.
Access to the contents is mediated through a computer archive, available only to registered library members.
Reading the contents requires excellent language skills due to the cultural level of the texts. Visits are available upon request, including in the evening.
There are no visual alarm systems in the restrooms.
Mobility Impairments and Limited Movement
The main entrance on Via Nazario Sauro has 3 steps, and the doorbell on the last one is not reachable. People with reduced or impaired mobility are advised to call in advance and enter from Via Morgagni 3.
The interior, a 16th-century church, allows for good mobility. Some difficulty may be encountered in reaching the central part, which requires going up three steps or passing through a 76 cm wide door.
For more information, see here.
Timetables
Open to the public every Thursday morning from 10 AM to 1 PM.
For consultation and requests for material, please contact the staff in advance by writing to: biblioteca@genusbononiae.it.
Times may be subject to change. Please consult the official website for updates.
