Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio

The Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio is one of Bologna's most remarkable buildings: once the historic seat of the University, it is now home to the Anatomical Theatre and the Municipal Library.

Located in the heart of the historical centre, the palazzo was built by Cardinal Borromeo between 1562 and 1563 to a design by architect Antonio Morandi - known as Terribilia - as the seat of the University until 1803. It was severely damaged by a bombing raid in 1944 and later rebuilt.

Its interior features a porticoed courtyard with vaulted ceilings ornamented by the coats of arms of the masters of the Studium and the students who attended the Alma Mater over the centuries.

Two grand staircases lead up from the courtyard to the upper floor where the Library (not accessible to tourists) and the Anatomical Theatre are located, a wooden room carved by Antonio Levante in 1637 for anatomical teaching, featuring the famous statues of the Spellati by Ercole Lelli.

Still on the first floor is the Stabat Mater Hall, one of the most distinctive settings of the ancient university, originally intended for the Legists, named after the first performance of Gioachino Rossini's Stabat Mater, conducted there by Gaetano Donizetti on 18 March 1842.