Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
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Neighborhood: Santo Stefano
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,374 reviews
Excellent
959
Very good
338
Average
58
Poor
7
Terrible
12
ArtsyGalBaltimore
Maryland847 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Visited the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita in order to see the human drama portrayed in Niccolo dell'Arca's Lamentation of Christ, which is on the side altar. To do so you must buy a 9 Euro ticket, which provides discount at other participating Bologna museums. Up a flight of stairs, one also finds the death of the Virgin Mary with 15 terraccota statues.
Written April 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK185,662 contributions
May 2023
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita is a Baroque and Rococo style church in the historic centre of Bologna. A church has been here since the 13th century, although the current church was only built in the 17/18th century. The church has an elliptical plan, topped with an elliptical dome. The interior is very compact with chapels surrounding the nave in close proximity. Each chapel is designed with a Baroque painting as its centrepiece, but mainly with rococo style mouldings. The one exception is the Chapel of St. Rita (I think), which has a sculpture of Madonna with Child as well as a recently installed memorial to another nun. One of the chapels I think has the Tomb of Bonaparte Ghislieri, a senator of Bologna who also commissioned the Hours of Bonaparte Ghislieri. The high altar is again Baroque, but without any hint of Rococo. The centrepiece of the high altar is Byzantine art inspired painting of Madonna with Child, crowned with a physical silver crown.
The pièce de résistance of the church is the clay sculptures of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell'Arca. Visits to this requires an entrance fee, but is totally worth it.
The pièce de résistance of the church is the clay sculptures of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell'Arca. Visits to this requires an entrance fee, but is totally worth it.
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antoncarth
High Wycombe, UK828 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This church is nice and interesting, typical gothic architecture like the most of the churches in Bologna. It’s open to public and free to visit.
On the other hand it costs €5.00 to visit the Orattorio dei Battuti, who is located at far end of the church. I would say it doesn’t worth to pay €5.00 to see the Oratorio. I would rather only see the free space of church.
On the other hand it costs €5.00 to visit the Orattorio dei Battuti, who is located at far end of the church. I would say it doesn’t worth to pay €5.00 to see the Oratorio. I would rather only see the free space of church.
Written October 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JJJC_Family
Virginia794 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
From the outside, this church does not look like much. Get inside and it’s much. It’s an impressive, attractive and tasteful interior. And if you go upstairs you will find a collection of fairly bizarre statues that nonetheless are extremely intriguing and represent great talent. I can’t lie to you that I did not spend a considerable amount of tome looking at it. I did. What makes this church so different than almost all others I have seen is the juxtaposition of a pretty conservative, traditional, even restrained appearance for the main part of the church and even the room that the statues occupy and with this truly jarring, avant-garde exhibition in the same church. Strangely, I respected that decision to combine the two. Somehow, it worked on a spiritual and artistic level. It’s not new and apparently it is famous. I think you owe to yourself to check it out.
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelaround59
London, UK2,033 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
I could see a church dome from Piazza Maggiore so I decided to walk there just to see what it was and I am glad that I did that because inside the un assuming facade there is a wonderful example of Barocco! Finally a church, for me, finally balanced and the little inside is a gem of discovery. As usual in Bologna you do not get the biggest artists of the Renaissance (as in Rome or Florence or Venice) but the paintings are very pleasant as well the carvings and the statues…very nice indeed!!!
Written January 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,571 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
This church is a stone's throw from San Petronio. Built in 1687-1690, it has an unusual elliptical shape. The dome of the church was erected only a century later, and the facade was completed only by 1905. The main thing that is watched in the church is Niccolo del Arca's masterpiece "Mourning for Christ". Which, unfortunately, I didn`t see...
Written April 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scvrose
Fiddletown, CA1,179 contributions
May 2023 • Family
Not a large church, but the artwork and sculptures are amazing. Make sure you pay to see the upper floor and the statues near the front. Amazing works, so lifelike. We just stopped and stared. You must see The Lamentation.
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason W
New York City, NY86 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
I'm giving this attraction one star to hopefully start something to get I ranked more appropriately. It certainly is worth a look but not the number one spot. My impression of Bologna is that it's worth visiting but you only need one night or a day and a half. The best attractions are climbing the tower, taking a long walk/hike through the porticos to the church on the hill, and walking through the markets next to Piazza Maggiore (and this attraction).
Side note: Bologna is full of graffiti and everyone smokes which was a major turn off for me. I was curious why Rick Steve's leaves this city out but after visiting there really isn't that much substance besides great food. I wouldn't go out of your way to visit but if it's on your path it deserves 1.5 days.
Side note: Bologna is full of graffiti and everyone smokes which was a major turn off for me. I was curious why Rick Steve's leaves this city out but after visiting there really isn't that much substance besides great food. I wouldn't go out of your way to visit but if it's on your path it deserves 1.5 days.
Written March 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnArborMHT
Genoa, Italy1,647 contributions
Jun 2013 • Solo
Compianto sul Cristo Morto is in Santa Maria della Vita on Via Clavature #8-10 a small church- but most visitors don’t go to see the church! It’s the life size collection of terracotta sculptures from the Italian Renaissance that brings tour groups into this small sanctuary. I probably would not have entered here except it’s on the Tourist Center’s 2 hour guided tour (very good tour to see all the highlights in the town center-13 euros) and the guide explained how important these figures are for their extreme expression on their faces and how rare this collection in terracotta is. She pointed out (you can’t miss it!) the masterpiece Compiano sul Cristo Morto “The Lamentation” by Niccolo dell’Arca with Christ dead and the horrific expressions on the lamenter’s faces! Also should you purchase the Genus Bonaniae museum ticket (10 euros or free with the Tourist center’s “Welcome Bologna” card) your entrance is included, but I never saw anyone taking money to see the church interior or the area where Compianto sul Christo Morto is! It is currently under scoffing after being damaged by an earthquake over a year ago. It’s only open from Tuesday to Saturday 10-12 and 15-19 and best seen as included on the tourist center’s guided tour. It’s supposed to have a museum of health in the same church, but I didn’t see it.
Written June 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WilliamJo
Bologna, Italy122 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
Surrounded by narrow streets lined with spectacular food shops interspersed with fruit and vegetable stalls, some of which are located in the street behind, under the high altar, the fine Baroque church of Santa Maria della Vita, in Via Clavature 8-10, just to the right of Piazza Maggiore as you stand on the steps of San Petronio, is well worth a visit in its own right. The recently renovated dome is almost as impressive as that of another great Baroque masterpiece, the Frauenkirche in Dresden, over 1000 km to the north, or that of the Peterskirche in Vienna. In addition it houses a group of Early Renaissance terracotta sculptures by Niccolo' Dell'Arca, Compianto sul Cristo Morto or Lamentation over the Dead Christ (1463-1490). These life-size statues are a powerful expression of grief and human suffering and a work of great beauty. Their survival over a period of over 500 years marked by a series of plagues, famines, wars and revolutions is itself something of a miracle. Next door, to the left as you face the Church, you can go through the gate and up the stairs to the first floor to visit the Oratory of the Confraternity of Santa Maria della Vita, housing a number of important works of art including The Death of the Virgin, a terracotta sculpture group created by Alfonso Lombardi between 1519 and 1522 as well as a number of sacred paintings. The Oratory also houses a collection of apothecary jars from the Ospedale della Vita, where the citizens of Bologna used to receive treatment, whereas the treatment of convicts, and prisoners condemned to death, was entrusted to the Ospedale della Morte, that was just across the street from Santa Maria della Vita, under the Portico della Morte.
Admission is free of charge both for the Church and the Oratory, but there is a flight of steps to be negotiated in both cases.
More details about Santa Maria della Vita:
http://www.genusbononiae.it/index.php?pag=28
More details about Niccolo' dell'Arca and the Lamentation over the Dead Christ:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_dell%27Arca
Admission is free of charge both for the Church and the Oratory, but there is a flight of steps to be negotiated in both cases.
More details about Santa Maria della Vita:
http://www.genusbononiae.it/index.php?pag=28
More details about Niccolo' dell'Arca and the Lamentation over the Dead Christ:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_dell%27Arca
Written April 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
quanto costa il biglietto per visitare il Compianto?
Written April 19, 2019
I am afraid i cannot answer that for you, if it where me, i would try contacting the nearest tourist office, you can find them online nowadays, i have had need to do this on my travels. good luck.
Written March 3, 2018
What is dress code to go in sanctuary ?
Written August 30, 2015
I was not aware of a formal dress code on my visit but it makes sense to just dress respectfully with no bare shoulders or shorts, as other contributers have suggested. This will likely only be an issue in summer months.
Written August 31, 2015
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