Basilica di San Petronio

The Basilica di San Petronio is the largest church in Piazza Maggiore, located in Piazza Maggiore. Positioned here is the longest sundial in the world, uniquely accurate and precise. The terrace of this church is accessible and offers a delightful view of the surroundings. 

Construction of the basilica started in 1390, but the facade remains unfinished. It was consecrated in the name of St. Petronio, the patron city of Bologna. The bottom marble part glows at night, contrasting with the upper, which is made of bricks and melds with the night sky. It was supposed to be the largest church in the world, but it was never completed; it still stands at an impressive height of 132 meters and is the seventh largest in the world. Egnazio Danti designed the original sundial, but it was destroyed when the church was renovated in 1653. Giovanni Domenico Cassini later made a similar, more sophisticated sundial, measuring 67.7m in length. In the Chapel of the Three Wise Men is Giovanni da Modena’s fresco depicting phases of St. Petronio’s life. However, it is considered a work of blasphemy by the Islamic World as the figure of Muhammed appears in hell in this depiction.