Palazzo Bolognetti

Palazzo Bolognetti, located in Via Castiglione in Bologna, is a remarkable example of Renaissance architecture that reflects the history and influence of the Bolognetti family. Built in 1551 at the behest of Camillo Bolognetti, son of Giacomo, the palace was designed in a style reminiscent of the works of Pellegrino Tibaldi, although other sources attribute the design to Antonio Morandi, known as Terribilia. The brick facade is characterized by a portico with four front arches and two side arches, supported by octagonal columns with Corinthian and composite style sandstone capitals, enriched with terracotta tiles with decorative motifs of fantastic animals and twisted motifs. The Bolognetti family, of ancient nobility, was appointed senatorial in 1556, thus consolidating their prestige and influence not only in Bologna, but also in the Papal State. The construction of the palace represented a symbol of the family’s new status, which counted among its members military leaders, cardinals, and distinguished academics. The interior decoration of the palace is particularly rich and refined, with sandstone sculptures and architectural friezes adorning the vestibule, loggia, courtyard, staircase, and atrium. These decorative elements are attributed to Andrea Marchesi da Formigine, a great sculptor and architect of the time. One of the most distinctive elements of Palazzo Bolognetti is the fifteenth-century portico, with its elegant columns and arches. The windows of the main floor are framed by Ionic sandstone half-columns and decorated with different cornices, crowned with relief vases. In the center of the facade, a small French door with volute pediment overlooks an eighteenth-century wrought iron balcony. The windows on the top floor, simple and square, are inserted between architectural moldings that horizontally divide the building, repeating the pattern also on the side facades. An inscription in the pediment of the central window on the southern side recalls the construction of the palace by Camillo Bolognetti: “CAMILLVS BOLOGNETTVS A FVNDAMENTIS / F(ieri) CVRAVIT / ANNO MDLI.” (Camillo Bolognetti had it built from the foundations / year 1551). Under the same side is the coat of arms of the Rambaldi family, the last owners of the building before its current use. The interior of the palace features sculptural decorations of great plasticity, inspired by the Roman age, with festoons of flowers and fruits, cherubs, hunting scenes, and mythological motifs, particularly the Hercules cycle, which celebrates the deeds of Hercules, the eponymous figure probably chosen in honor of the ancestor who survived the family tragedy. Palazzo Bolognetti also plays a significant role in the contemporary cultural life of Bologna. It currently houses the Circolo Bononia, an exclusive club that continues the tradition of being a meeting point for intellectuals and prominent personalities of the city. The palace is often the venue for cultural events, exhibitions, and conferences, contributing to keeping alive the tradition of cultural and academic excellence that has characterized the history of the Bolognetti family.