The Via dell’Indipendenza is the main artery between the railway station and the Piazza Maggiore, the central square of Bologna. The street, which was constructed after the unification of Italy, is one of the most important shopping streets of the city.
A brief history of the Via dell’Indipendenza in Bologna
Construction of the Via dell’Indipendenza was completed in 1890, when Bologna became an important rail hub. Today it is primarily a shopping street, flanked on both sides by the characteristic Bolognese porticoes.
What to see in the Via dell’Indipendenza
Palazzina Majani
The art-deco style Palazzina Majani (n. 4) was built in the early 20th century by Augusto Sezanne. It was the seat of café/chocolate shop Majani. Nowadays, the building houses a branch of a low-cost clothing store. Note the floral motifs of the capitals above the entrance and balconies.
Palazzo dell’Ex Seminario (Grand Hotel Majestic)
The so-called Palazzo dell’Ex Seminario (n. 8) was commissioned by Pope Benedict XIV in the 17th century and built by Alfonso Torreggiani. It was originally intended to be the seat of the Episcopal Seminarium. In 1912, the palace was converted into the Grand Hotel Majestic, still the most prestigious hotel in Bologna. In one of the rooms on the belvedere floor you can still see a frieze painted by the three Carracci brothers (Agostino, Annibale and Ludovico), depicting the history of Europe.
Palazzo del Monte di Pietà
The 15th century Palazzo del Monte di Pietà (n. 11) started its existence as the seat of the canons of the nearby San Pietro Cathedral. A century later, the Monte di Pietà settled in the palace. This was an institution that made small loans against a non-profit collateral. In the 18th century the building was restored by the Roman architect Marco Antonio Bianchini with some help from Alfonso Torreggiani. The sculpture on the main entrance is attributed to Gabriele Fiorini and depicts a Pietà.
The building on Via dell’Indipendenza n. 55 was constructed in the 19th century. On the small rectangular square next to this building a daily market is held.
Arena del Sole Theatre
The Teatro Arena del Sole was founded in 1810. The Dominican convent that occupied the space before had, like all religious orders, been banned by Napoleon. As the inscription on the facade indicates, the theatre initially only performed during day time. In 1888, it got its current Neoclassical outlook, after a design by Gaetano Rubbi. Of the original convent, only the cloister, used for outdoor performances during the summer months, remains. After World War I, cinema gradually took over and in 1949 the Arena del Sole became a movie theatre. In 1984, the city bought the building and reconverted it into a theatre. The statues topping the facade were the work of Alfredo Neri.
Useful information
Main attractions: Palazzina Majani (n. 4), Palazzo dell’Ex Seminario (n. 8), Palazzo del Monte di Pietà (n. 11), Arena del Sole Theater (n. 44).
Bus lines: 11, 20, 27, A, C.
Via dell’Indipendenza Bologna
Sources
- Official tourist information website of Bologna.
- Photos are my own (©RenatoProsciutto).
- Last visit to Bologna: July 2026.