The church of San Giovanni Battista dei Celestini is located in the Piazza dei Celestini in Bologna. Artistic highlights in this church are its magnificent cloister and neo-classical façade. Originally, this church dates back to the 14th century.
A brief history of the church of San Giovanni Battista dei Celestini in Bologna
The current Piazza dei Celestini was the site of the Forum of the oppidum (fortified city) of the Roman city of Bononia (the original Latin name of Bologna).
In the 14th century, the buildings on the south side of the square and in the beginning of the Vicolo Santo Spirito were property of the Catalani and Torelli families. Of those, only the Torre dei Catalani still exists. The other buildings, mostly in ruins at the time, were acquired by the Galluzzi, who subsequently had the church and convent built.
The Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista dei Celestini, as its official name reads, was constructed in 1369. Antonio Galluzzi gave the church to the Celestine monks.
In 1520, the church needed to be enlarged and reconstructed because of a big increase in the number of believers. The main chapel was completed in 1523. Because of a lack of funds, it then took 12 years to build the six chapels on the monastery side.
The architect Lorenzo Triachino subsequently constructed the chapels on the Via d’Azeglio side and the vaults of the nave. He also created a space high up in the presbytery, from where the monks could witness the services.
After Lorenzo‘s death, his relative Bartolomeo Triachino took over. He was respnsible for the tombs and altars, for the side entrances, and for the decoration of the main portal. Much later, in 1580, he also started work on the bell tower, which was however completed by another architect.
The current facade is neo-classical and was designed by Carlo Francesco Dotti and Francesco Tadolini.
The associated monastery features a magnificent cloister. This chiostro, originally designed by Del Dotti, was raised in the 19th century. Today, the monastery is the seat of the State Archives.
What to see in San Giovanni Battista dei Celestini
Marc Antonio Franceschini painted the main altarpiece, “Virgin Enthroned with Saints Celestine, Luke, and John the Baptist”, between 1686 and 1687. Antonio Orsone made the gilded wooden altarpiece decorated by a sculpture of “Virtue with Cupids” by Giuseppe Mazza. Mazza was also responsible for the busts of “San Benedetto” and “Santa Scholastica”.
Giovanni Antonio Burrini and Giovanni Enrico Hainer were responsible for the fresco gracing the presbytery vault.
In 1714, Giacomo Boni and Giacinto Garofolini frescoed the vault of the nave with “Three episodes from the life of San Pietro Celestino”. San Pietro Celestino, whose real name was Pietro da Morrone but is best known as Pope Celestino V, is one of very few popes to have given up the Papacy of his own free will. Luca Bistega was responsible for the other vault ornaments.
In 1727, Giacomo Zarnardi, nicknamed “the Lame One,” and Giuseppe Monti painted the fresco on the left wall of the presbytery.
The painting “Death of San Giuseppe” is a copy of an original by Marcantonio Franceschini. When the Church of San Michele Arcangelo was closed, it was relocated to its present spot, together with “The Archangel Saint Raphael Accompanying Young Tobias” by Gianbattista Bertusio, painted in 1644.
A plaque refers to the tomb of sculptor Nicolò dell’Arca, who originated from Puglia and had collaborated on the monument for Domenico di Guzmán, known as “Arca di San Domenico”, which is located in the Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna.
Useful information
Address: Piazza dei Celestini – 40124 Bologna. Phone: +39 051 221443. Opening times: Monday to Friday from 08:00 till 09:30 and from 18:00 till 20:00; Saturday from 19:30 till 20:30; Sunday from 11:30 till 12:30 and from 19:30 till 20:30. Ticket price: Free. (Note that prices and times may be subject to change.)
San Giovanni Battista Church Bologna
Sources
- Information boards available inside the church.
- Official tourist information website of Bologna.
- Photos are my own (©RenatoProsciutto).
- Last visit to Bologna: July 2026.
Leave a Reply