National Gallery of Bologna

The artworks of painters from the Emilia region are highlighted at Bologna’s pinacoteca, or picture gallery, focusing on the Early Renaissance to Baroque periods.

The source of the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna’s fine collection came initially from the artworks looted from churches and monasteries by Napoleon on his Italian campaigns, and shipped off to Paris.

Make sure you see the stellar paintings by Giotto, El Greco, Titian and Raphael’s Ecstasy of St Cecilia.

Later highlights include works by Annibale Carracci and Guido Reni.

Practical Info

It’s quite a stroll to the Santuario de Madonna di San Luca, but well worth it for the experience and the views. The roofed portico begins at Piazza di Porta Saragozza.

Buses run to Villa Spada, from where minibuses continue on to the basilica