Hidden FAI Treasures in Bologna: Santa Maria Incoronata and San

FAI Spring Days: a chance to explore Bologna’s heritage

The FAI openings attracted thousands of visitors in Bologna, offering access to sites normally closed to the public. Guided visits, student docents and volunteers combine to bring lesser-known cultural assets to light and to support conservation projects.

Santa Maria Incoronata: a tucked-away university church

Santa Maria Incoronata stands near the university area at the end of via San Giacomo. Its brick exterior makes it easy to miss. Built as an oratory in the late 15th century and enlarged in later centuries, the church preserves layered artistic contributions from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Highlights inside:

• Frescoes linked to Giovanni Battista Sandoni;
• Cherubs by Vittorio Maria Bigari;
• Paintings by Giacomo Franceschini;
• Sacristy decorations partly by a member of the Bibiena family and canvases by Giuseppe Pedretti.

Opened to the public for the first time during the FAI event, the church is also the site of a training restoration project involving students and professors from the Accademia di Belle Arti and coordinated with the Fondazione RUI.

San Giovanni in Monte: monastery, prison and academic hub

The San Giovanni in Monte complex sits in Bologna’s historic centre. With origins in the early Middle Ages and major developments in the Renaissance, the site preserves cloisters and conventual spaces that reflect its long religious and educational history.

Main attractions:

• The two Renaissance cloisters, including the large Doric cloister with double loggias;
• The former refectory, now a lecture hall, featuring Bartolomeo Cesi’s monumental fresco The Parable of the Wedding Banquet;
• Architectural details and sculptural decorations, with interventions by Antonio Morandi (il Terribilia).

Visits reveal an older layer of the complex hidden beneath its current academic use and offer insight into centuries of religious and civic life.

Why go and practical tips

Attending FAI openings supports conservation and helps uncover overlooked works. Visits are usually led by volunteers and trained students and often ask for a voluntary contribution to fund restoration and enhancement activities.

• Timing: arrive early on opening weekends to avoid queues;
• Support: contributions go to conservation and restoration projects;
• Plan ahead: check the FAI calendar for future openings and school-restoration sites;
• Community impact: these initiatives boost local tourism and strengthen ties between citizens and cultural heritage.

The discoveries revealed during the Spring Days show that even well-trodden cities hide surprises. Keep an eye on upcoming FAI events for further openings and restoration initiatives.