Bonasoni Palace

Palazzo Bonasoni, located at Via Galliera 21 in Bologna, is a building of great historical and artistic significance, built in the second half of the sixteenth century by Galeazzo Bonasoni. This magnificent palace represents a perfect example of Bolognese Renaissance architecture, with decorative and structural elements that reflect the elegance and sophistication of the period. The history of the palace begins with the Caccianemici dall’Orso family, owners of the original thirteenth-century structures on which the new building was constructed. Galeazzo Bonasoni acquired these structures and commissioned the reconstruction of the palace, which was probably designed by the architect Antonio Morandi, known as il Terribilia. The facade of the palace, although showing some irregularities due to the pre-existing fifteenth-century elements, is an extraordinary example of architectural harmony. The elevated portico, with its columns and arches, adds a sense of grandeur and magnificence to the building. Over the centuries, Palazzo Bonasoni has experienced numerous changes of ownership, which have helped shape its appearance and history. From 1609 to 1615 it belonged to the Tanari family, then passed to the Ranuzzi family until 1704, then to the Volta family in 1739, and subsequently to the Grati family. In 1804, the palace was purchased by Marquis Francesco Scarani and, after further changes, it came into the hands of the Zucchini and Bevilacqua families. Since 1931, the owners were the Zerbini, Pellegrini-Quarantotti, and finally the Gamberini families. Today, since 2004, Palazzo Bonasoni is the headquarters of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Emilia-Romagna Region, continuing to play an important role in the city’s cultural life. The interiors of the palace bear witness to the various changes of ownership and different periods of decoration. On the noble floor, the eighteenth-century decoration commissioned by the Ranuzzi family included a perspective by Giuseppe Maria Mitelli, unfortunately lost. Around 1739, the Volta family commissioned Vittorio Maria Bigari to create a decorated alcove with putti, which no longer exists. However, the Bonasoni construction site from the second half of the sixteenth century has left significant traces, such as a fresco depicting the Trojan War, currently covered by a false ceiling. Of the original pictorial cycle, a faded frieze with allegories and landscapes reminiscent of Niccolò dell’Abate’s style survives. In the palace courtyard, a particularly interesting element is the marble sculpture of Venus, reclining in an open niche. This statue, dating back to the eighth decade of the nineteenth century, is attributed to Carlo Monari, a sculptor known for his classicist style and attention to realistic details. A particularly fascinating aspect of the palace is the combination of Renaissance elements with subsequent additions and modifications that reflect different historical periods. The ceilings of the nineteenth-century rooms, decorated with Muses and putti framed by neorocaille ornamentation, are attributed to Girolamo Dal Pane, an artist who also worked in the Spada and Malvezzi De’ Medici palaces. An interesting anecdote concerns Monari’s Venus in the palace courtyard. The statue, with its grace and beauty, has long been a symbol of elegance and refined art, attracting the attention of visitors and scholars. The sculpture, with its classical style, represents a perfect example of nineteenth-century art and the ability of artists of the time to reinterpret ancient models with a touch of modern realism.