You'll visit several churches when you go to Santo Stefano, taking in the changes in style over time. The square in front is impressive especially if you walk through it when a market is in session, and when you enter you'll visit spaces created from the 5th to the 13th centuries. Allow yourself time to take in as much as possible. It's probably a good idea to listen into a tour or have a guide help you through the complexity.

This complex is actually seven different churches, all interconnected. The various churches were built at different times between the Dark Ages and medieval times, so you see a wide variety of architectural styles. We only had about an hour to explore the site and it wasn't enough, you should allow double that. The churches are free to enter, and are on the beautiful Piazza Santo Steffano, which is also worth exploring.

The basilica and adjoining buildings didn’t have very many visitors the day I went, which made it a very peaceful place to spend some time. The buildings are very old and quite beautiful. No tickets are required, entry is by donation.

Obviously I am not dwelling on the wonders that this grandiose complex of the Seven Churches contains, which wanted to reproduce the Holy Land for the use of pilgrims... its many relics and everything else... just search the Wikipedia page and deepen in the official website... (I did so). I just want to share my impression and say that you MUST go there to understand the greatness of certain places, try to identify with the pilgrims of the past who arrived after months of walking in these fantastic places... Here, do not look at the clock all the time, no one chases you, no one puts time limits on you...instead look, contemplate, if you want and are believers, maybe say a prayer... Well it’s a visit that will leave you with something more than your beautiful photographs.😊

In my opinion apart from the porch to and from San Luca is the most beautiful thing seen in Bologna. The Basilica of Santo Stefano, is undoubtedly one of the most interesting places in Bologna. The structure has the charm of the lived, you can perceive the time spent, the beautiful / curious thing is its appearance, apparently messy, which attracts even more the attention of those who visit this particular sanctuary, is so extravagant, to have more names: Saint Stephen, the seven churches, Holy Jerusalem. Actually there are not seven churches, but more than ten, a nice walk through rooms and cloisters. Remember to leave an offer.

Part of a complex of seven religious buildings, the Basilica (one of several basilicas in Padua) dates to the eight century. Wonderfully serene, the church is of Lombard origin, with a single nave and a trussed vault. Highlights in the art program include the beautiful main altar Crucifix by Simone dei Crosifissi. There is a rare 12th century fresco in Romanesque style attributed to Berlinghiero, joined by fifteenth century frescoes by Michel de Matteo. In the Chapel of the Trinity, there is an equally rare, quite beautiful wooden group of the Adoration of the Magi, sculpted in the 14th century, the oldest Nativity scene known in the world.

This is a complex of seven historic churches from various eras, dating back to around the 5th century that cluster into a single basilica at Piazza Santo Stefano. There are various architectural buildings, medieval structures, chapels and cloister that make up the complex. Quite a few points of interest, artworks throughout. You can visit a small museum with old artworks and will find a little gift shop if you want to pick someone up to remember your visit. On the whole, there are some very good church visits you can make in Bologan. Basilica Santo Stefano is one of them, well worth making time to visit when exploring the Piazza Santo Stefano area of the city centre of Bologna.

Magic place, unmissable stop, unique atmosphere. The complex of the seven churches is unique and hides unthinkable stories, for this I absolutely recommend the guide , alternatively I recommend watching on you tube the 3 episodes of Dedalus etv dedicated to the Basilica of Santo Stefano. You will enjoy the visit to the fullest. Att. Closed on Mondays.

This religious complex, St. Stephen's Basilica, is locally known as "The Seven Churches" for the overlapping/juxtaposition over the centuries of several religious buildings. The visit is good to do it with the help of a guide as the places to visit are several and I summarize; Church of the Crucifix (of Lombard origin with a single nave but rich in interesting frescoes), Church of St. John the Baptist (note an imposing Crucifix and interesting frescoes), The Crypt (under the Church of St. John the Baptist, probably the oldest building are noted urns with relics), Basilica of the Sepulchre (which follows the structure of the similar Basilica in Jerusalem and there are many artifacts symbol of the passion including a Monument of the Holy Sepulchre), Basilica SS. Vitale and Agricola with rest of mosaic floor and interesting carved sarcophagi), Cortile c.d. di Pilato (in fact a cloister full of tombstones with a stone basin in the center), Chiesa della Trinità (beautiful architectural structure that houses, among other things, a wooden group depicting the Adoration of the Magi), Chiesa della Benda and attached Museum (you can admire interesting reliquaries, monstrances, religious clothes and frescoes). The visit is very challenging if you want to see the main points carefully. Access is free with offer.

We went to visit this very special church full of charm. Absolutely recommended because it is something truly unique with seven churches embedded one inside the other. The reproduction of the holy tomb and the pilate garden are to be seen.