S.Petronio
The church of S.Petronio is one of the most beautiful
examples of the Italian gothic architecture. The project is by Antonio
da Vincenzo and the church was erected between 1390 and1659. The
facede is furred with marble in the lower part, while the upper one is
left rough. Of the three portals, the middle one is decked with powerful
sculptures by the Sienese Iacopo della Quercia (1425-38; stories from the
Bible in the pillars; 18 prophets in the splay; stories from the New Testament
in the architrave and Madonna with Boy in the lunette), is
among the masterpieces of the first Rinascimento; the other two have rilieves
and statues in the lunettes made by other minor artists during the 16th
century. Noteworthy are also the pictoresque high windows on the two sides
of the church.
The interior is wide and grand with one nave and two
aisles with ample pointed arches and side chapels shut by marble transennas
and railings (XV-XVIII sec.). There are many noteworthy art works in the
church and among these are: in the second chapel on the right side, 15th
century frescos; in the 3rd, polyptych with frescos; in the 4th, a beautiful
marble transenna (1483) and windows by Giacomo da Ulma (1466; Italianised
name); in the fifth, Pietà by A. Aspertini (1519); in the 6th, S.Girolamo,
painting by L.Costa, and Madonna with Child in terracotta (1543);
in the 8th, closed by a noteworthy marble transenna (1525), by the altar
there are a marble anchor based on a design by Vignola (1550) and inlaid
stalls of the year 1521; in the 9th, statue of S.Antonio di Padova, and
on the walls, miracles of the Saint by Girolamo da Treviso (1526);
in front of the 11th, in a niche, there is a Pietà, and group
in terracotta of the end of the 16th century. In the presbitery, there
are a grand tribune planned by Vignola above the Major Altar, an imposing
inlaid choir (1477) and beautiful organs (the one on the right,
from the years 1470-75, is perhaps the oldest in Italy); in the ninth
chapel on the left there are an elegant wrought iron fence (1482), and
by the altar a painting by D.Calvaert; in the 8th, S.Rocco, by Parmigianino;
in the seventh (beautiful marble transenna of the 15th century), Madonna
and Saints, by L.Costa (1492); in the 5th, Martyrdom of S.Sebastiano, by
the 15th century Emilian school; fine floor made of majolica from Faenza
(1487); the 4th, close by a marble transenna of gothic style has a beatiful
gothic polyptych by the altar, with scenes from the life of S.Petronio;
Paradise and Hell) by Giovanni da Modena and aids (1410-15); the windows
are of the 15th century; the 2nd (of S.Petronio) has a beautiful
iron fence (sec.XVIII) and a rich 18th century decoration; in the 1st,
there are frescos by Giovanni da Modena (1420). On the floor of the left
aisle you will note the sun-dial (1655) that runs to the facade.
City Hall
Grand building, it is made up of two distinct buildings: the one on the left, with its ogives' portico and dominated by a tower on one side, dates back to the 13th century; and the one on the right, with its mullioned windows adorned with terracottas, is of the year 1428. In the center there is amajestic portal was drawn by G.Alessi (1555) and built in the upper part by D.Tibaldi; on the overhanging balcony there is a colossal bronze statue of Pope Gregorio XIII (1580); a little higher, on the left, there is a beautiful terracotta (Madonna and Saints) by Nicolò dell'Arca (1478).
Palazzo del Podestà
This builiding was originally built
during the Middle Age (at the beginning of the 13th century). It was later
remade in elegant Renaissance forms starting in the year 1484. The ground
floor has got an arcade and is run through by two short streets that intersect
one another under a vault. At its corners are 4 terracottas with the
patron Saints of the city by A.Lombardi. The builing is surmounted by the
embattled torre dell'Arengo (tower of the Arengo) of the year 1212.