WDEC 2026 in Bologna and its Metropolitan Area

Discover the program of events taking place in Bologna Metropolitan Area during the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026.

In the Bologna Metropolitan Area, there are five cemeteries recognized as "monumental and historic cemeteries of Emilia-Romagna" under Regional Law 21/2022: the Certosa Monumental Cemetery of Bologna, the Piratello Cemetery of Imola, the Casaglia Cemetery of Marzabotto, the Medicina Cemetery, and the San Giovanni in Persiceto Cemetery.

During the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026, the Città Metropolitana di Bologna (Metropolitan City of Bologna) and Settore Musei Civici Bologna (Bologna Civic Museums Sector), for the hird consecutive year, are promoting a coordinated calendar of guided tours and initiatives dedicated to historical, artistic, and naturalistic itineraries in these locations.

Bologna - Certosa Monumental Cemetery

Friday, May 22 | 4:00 PM
In the Footsteps of Farinelli and His Family

Guided tour with Luigi Verdi exploring the memorial of Carlo Broschi, the legendary 18th-century singer known as Farinelli. The journey winds through silent cloisters to discover the tombs of his family members, weaving together art, music, and society from the 1700s to the present day. Inspired by the 2026 publication "Famiglie del Farinelli e loro dimore".

Organized by: Museo Civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking: Recommended at prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com.
Admission: Free.

Saturday, May 23 | 3:00 PM
Truth or Lies?

Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli. Inspired by the writings of Basile Joseph Ducos (1819-1820), this walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site questions whether the virtuous inscriptions on tombstones always tell the truth.

Organized by: Museo Civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking: Mandatory at prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com (confirmation email required).
Admission: €10.00 / €8.00 for Card Cultura holders (cash preferred).

Sunday, May 24 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Musical Weaves in Certosa

An independent tour where monuments are paired with ancient and modern songs. Visitors are encouraged to bring a smartphone and headphones to listen to tracks suggested by a mediator. A special guide sheet will be provided at the Infopoint to help you create your own "Certosa playlist".

Organized by: MIA (Innovative and Open Museums) for Museo Civico del Risorgimento.
Departure: Historical-Artistic Info Point, via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Free.

Sunday, May 24 | 10:30 AM
Underground Certosa: An Unusual Journey

Discover the least-known areas of the cemetery, including mysterious galleries, cold underground tunnels, and hidden cloisters. The tour includes the tragic story of Radio, a young submariner, and a look at modern artworks hidden from the hurried visitor.

Organized by: Mirarte.
Booking: Mandatory at mirartecoop.it.
Admission: €14.00 full / €10.00 reduced (children 6-12, people with disabilities).

Monday, May 25 | 4:00 PM
Biographical Visit to Bologna’s Greatest Monument

Guided tour with Mauro Felicori (founder and former president of ASCE) and Roberto Martorelli. The tour traces the complex's rebirth since 1999 and its recent recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Organized by: Associazione Amici della Certosa with Museo Civico del Risorgimento.
Booking: Mandatory at amicidellacertosa@gmail.com.
Admission: Free.

Tuesday, May 26 | 7:00 PM
NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow

An immersive sonic walk through the cemetery using headphones. This poetic journey by Alessandro Renda explores the connection between the living and the dead.

Organized by: Ravenna Teatro in collaboration with perAspera Festival.
Booking: Mandatory pre-sale at www.ravennateatro.com/nephesh-certosa/.
Admission: €18.00.

Thursday, May 28 | 6:00 PM
Certosa T900: Memory and Guardianship

A meeting with Mauro Felicori discussing a collective study project on 20th-century tombs. The project involves photographers, volunteers, and students to preserve the city's memory for the future.

Organized by: Associazione Amici della Certosa with Museo Civico del Risorgimento.
Booking: Mandatory at amicidellacertosa@gmail.com.
Admission: Free.

Thursday, May 28 | 9:00 PM
Certosa: Nature and Death

A guided walk through the 19th-century garden of memory, exploring the botany and symbolism of death. Guided by biologist Francesco Nigro, this tour reveals the vibrant "urban nature" hidden within the city of the dead.

Meeting Point: Via della Certosa 22 (Italian Military Monument).
Organized by: Associazione Vitruvio.
Booking: Mandatory at associazione.vitruvio@gmail.com or +39 329 3659446.
Admission: €12.00 (Comfortable shoes and a flashlight/smartphone are recommended).

Saturday, May 30 | 10:30 AM
A Sunset of Joyful Notes – Bolognese Arts of the late 1700s

A walk with Roberto Martorelli through the UNESCO cloisters to discover the sculptors, painters, and composers who lived during the transition from Baroque to Neoclassical culture.

Organized by: Museo Civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking: Mandatory at prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com (confirmation email required).
Admission: €10.00 / €8.00 for Card Cultura holders (cash preferred).

Saturday, May 30 | 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Adore the Stars that Never Fade – Napoleon and Murat in Bologna

A grand historical reenactment featuring the meeting of Emperor Napoleon and the King of Naples. The event includes historical groups and a special guest, Prince Joachim Murat, heir to the Prince.

Afternoon Session (3:30 PM): Meet at Ingresso Piangoloni; includes a tour and photo shoot at the Pantheon.
Evening Session (7:30 PM): Meet at Ingresso Piangoloni; arrival of Napoleon and Murat followed by group tours of historical stops.
Booking: Mandatory via Eventbrite.
Admission: Free.

Sunday, May 31 | 3:30 PM
The Certosa of Bologna: An Open Book on History

An "ABC" tour for first-time visitors, covering everything from the Etruscan necropolis to the monastery and the modern cemetery. Visit the tombs of famous figures like Lucio Dalla, Giosue Carducci, and Alfieri Maserati.

Organized by: Mirarte.
Booking: Mandatory at mirartecoop.it/eventi/.
Admission: €14.00 full / €10.00 reduced.

May 28 – September 25, 2026
Theater Workshop: Souls on Stage

A sensory theater workshop held within the cemetery itself. Led by actress Luisa Vitali and director Luca Ghelfi, the course uses the statues and epitaphs as inspiration for vocal and physical expression.

Schedule: Generally on Thursdays after closing (sunset or night); approx. 2 hours per session.
Cost: €100 for a minimum of 4 sessions.
Meeting Point: Italian Military Monument, via della Certosa 22.
Info/Booking: luisa.vitali@rimacheride.it (WhatsApp only) at +39 335 6820121.

May 22 – June 7, 2026
Exhibition: Walks in Certosa

From Neoclassicism to Liberty in Funerary Monuments | Chiostro dell’Ossaia / delle Madonne
A photographic exhibition by Artecittà-APS documenting a century of funerary art, from Neoclassical motifs to the Art Nouveau revolution.

Visiting Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

May 2026 | Free Guided Tours
Scheduled on: May 23 (10:30 AM), May 24 (4:00 PM), May 29 (10:30 AM), May 31 (10:30 AM)

Booking: Mandatory at info@bolognartecitta.it or +39 333 6917884 (WhatsApp only).

Medicina - Medicina Cemetery

Sunday, May 24 | 10:30 AM | Guided Tour
Paths of Memories from Medicina

A walk from the Municipal Library to the Historical Cemetery to discover the figures who contributed to the history of their community. During the tour, participants will receive a copy of the cemetery guide, produced thanks to Regional Law 21/2022.

Organized by: Municipality of Medicina with Area Blu and the Museo del Risorgimento di Bologna.
Meeting Point: Entrance of the Library, via Pillio 1, Medicina.
Admission: Free with reservation at +39 0516979209 or serviziculturali@comune.medicina.bo.it.

Wednesday, May 27 | 9:30 PM | Guided Tour
Faces, Stories, and Words from the City of Medicina

A nocturnal walk to rediscover the present through the forms of the past. Rice weeders (mondine), teachers, and artisans who lived through and documented the long period from Italian Unification to the birth of the Republic. During the tour, the cemetery guide (Regional Law 21/2022) will be distributed. Note: Bring a flashlight or use your smartphone light; comfortable shoes are recommended.

Organized by: Municipality of Medicina with Area Blu and the Museo del Risorgimento di Bologna.
Meeting Point: 15 minutes before the start at the entrance of the Historical Cemetery, via della Resistenza 322.
Admission: Free with reservation at +39 0516979209 or serviziculturali@comune.medicina.bo.it.

San Giovanni in Persiceto - San Giovanni in Persiceto Cemetery

Sunday, May 24 | 4:00 PM | Guided Tour
To Say, To Do, To Teach

With the birth of the new Kingdom of Italy, a gradual effort to improve literacy across the nation began, establishing a minimum requirement for compulsory schooling—initially for two years, and later extended to three. The transfer of knowledge became a way to shape independent and supportive citizens, and an opportunity to "leave a positive mark" on younger generations by nurturing their dreams and vocations. Education was seen as a bridge between people and cultures. Walking through the courtyards and porticoes of the Historical Monumental Cemetery, we will discover the stories of teachers and mentors who made Persiceto famous in the fields of music, science, literature, and medicine.

Meeting Point: In front of the entrance of the Historical Monumental Cemetery (Circonvallazione Vittorio Veneto, 24).
Admission: Full: €12.00 / Reduced (Ages 14-18): €7.00 / Children under 14: Free
Booking: Mandatory.

Information & Reservations: IAT-R PIANURA BOLOGNESE - Tourist Information Office
Phone & WhatsApp: +39 348 731 8029
Email: cultura.turismo@comunepersiceto.it

Certosa of Bologna summer calendar 2019 (23rd May - 26th September)

The Certosa of Bologna events calendar is back from 23rd May to 26th September 2019. It is a summer calendar organised by the Museo civico del Risorgimento and now on its 11th year.

It includes more than sixty dates ranging from travelling shows, audio-visual performances and theatre which will make use of the Certosa as an attractive backdrop, in addition to the now regular guided visits to Bologna’s art and history. The evening events will also be supplemented by guided day visits and sunset walks, workshops and conferences.

The new feature this year is the events organised by the three important town associations working with disability: Accaparlante – CDH, Istituto dei Ciechi Francesco Cavazza and Fondazione Gualandi A Favore Dei Sordi.

For the first time in Bologna these three associations have worked together on a shared cultural project, designing four workshop-itineraries (13th and 20th July, 12th and 21st September) and a theatre date (24th September).
In the first case visitors will find out about past work and stories via accessible itineraries in which all their senses will be put to the test and they will have to work together to move around the Certosa, to give a voice to the work or find the exits. In the second, visitors will discover how a whole city can be memorised via their own bodies.

In conjunction with the beginning of the summer programme, from 23rd May, an English language website on the Certosa, created thanks to the contribution of Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali and the co-operation of Liceo Ginnasio “Luigi Galvani” and Associazione Amici della Certosa, will go online. It is designed to make this great Bologna monument more accessible and user friendly for both Italian and international tourists.

Once again designed to promote the Certosa outside the local area, too, the Museo civico del Risorgimento’s partnership with Tavolo Tecnico SE.F.IT. for the promotion of Italy’s historic and artistic cemetery sites will be continuing with a small number of members of UTILITALIA - SE.F.IT. (Servizi Funerari Italiani), including Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali, with the participation of the museum itself together with the most important Italian cemeteries including Genoa, Turin, Rome, Ferrara, Milan, Trento and Mantua.

The initiatives proposed by the technical panel on the occasion of the annual European Exploring Cemeteries Week promoted by ASCE – Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe, this year from 24th May to 2nd June, include the publication of a brochure encompassing all the activities organised by 10 Italian cemeteries (in addition to the Bologna Certosa, the Trento, Villetta di Parma, Genoa Staglieno, Certosa di Ferrara, Tempio crematorio Socrem in Turin, Monumentale di Milano, Monumentale di Torino, Bolzano, Monumentale di Mantova and Rome's Verano cemeteries will also be taking part).

In addition to this nation-wide promotion and publicity strategy, there will also be a photographic exhibition set up and visible in digital form at all participating cemeteries which will feature certain representative images of the cemeteries themselves.

In Bologna the photo gallery will be visible in digital format at the Certosa on both an info totem located in the room next to the history-art Info Point as well as online on www.storiaememoriadibologna.it. The totem, made by Liceo Arcangeli’s students on work experience, encompasses a tablet for web access which enables visitors to explore all the other contents of the Storia e Memoria di Bologna portal.

In terms of promoting the cemetery in tourist terms and in the context of improving public services, a wi-fi internet access service is available at the Info Point, thanks to the support of Bologna town council’s Digital and IT Agenda Sector, giving free access to the whole Iperbole Wireless network from the Chiesa di San Girolamo courtyard, too.

The example of Bologna confirms the growth of a cultural memory tourism sector whose focus is funerary monuments in the sense of cultural heritage, with an interesting level of internationalisation. In 2018 1748 people visited the site, including 126 non-Italians, registering at the Certosa Info Point. They came from 13 different nations: Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Mexico, Germany, France, Belgium, the United States, Austria, Russia, Japan, Holland and Vietnam.

The Certosa of Bologna. Summer calendar is realized by Istituzione Bologna Musei | Museo civico del Risorgimento with: Associazione Amici della Certosa, Associazione Correnti d'Arte - Compagnia d’Arte Drummatica, Associazione Culturale Youkali, Associazione culturale Rimachèride, Associazione culturale Didasco, Associazione Dolci Accenti, Associazione Musica e Nuvole, Associazione RestauriAmo, Associazione Vitruvio, Tempo Reale - Centro di Ricerca Produzione e Didattica Musicale, Fondazione Collegio Artistico Venturoli, Cooperativa Sociale Accaparlante - CDH, Fondazione Gualandi A Favore dei Sordi, G.A.I.A. eventi, Istituto dei Ciechi Francesco Cavazza, Istantanea Teatro.
With the cooperation fo: ASCE - Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe, Associazione 8cento, BSC - Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali, AICS Bologna, Collettivo della Scuola di Musica Elettronica di Bologna, IT.A.CÀ - festival del turismo responsabile, Libreria Atlantide, Libreria Trame, Liceo Ginnasio Luigi Galvani.

Info: www.museibologna.it/risorgimento

WDEC 2019 in Bologna, Italy

The programme on the occasion of the Week of Discovering European cemeteries (WDEC) 2019 at Certosa Monumental Cemetery of Bologna, Italy.We inform also that the English website for the Certosa of Bologna will be online as from 23 May 2019. The project received funding from BSC - Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali (Bologna Cemetery Services) and was prepared in collaboration with the Liceo Ginnasio Luigi Galvani and the Associazione Amici della Certosa. Our website provides information about this monumental cemetery and its historical buildings, which together form the largest such complex in Bologna, and is designed so that all our visitors from Italy and beyond can fully appreciate their visit.
www.storiaememoriadibologna.it/certosa-monumental-cemetery

“Il Liceo Galvani e la Certosa - caccia ai tesori”
“Liceo Galvani and the Certosa - Treasure Hunt”Thursday 23 May, at 15:30 and 16:30 | guided tour
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

Explore the cemetery on a walk with young students who have been learning about this largest monument in Bologna. This event is the outcome of a school-work learning initiative involving the secondary school Liceo Ginnasio Luigi Galvani and Bologna’s Museum of the Risorgimento.
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Our visitors with a Musei Metropolitani Bologna card will receive a gift at the entrance.
Entry is free.

“Le donne e l’atelier dell’artista nell’Ottocento”
“Women and the Artist’s Workshop in the Ottocento”
Friday 24 May, at 17:00 | talk
Fondazione Collegio Artistico Venturoli - Via Centotrecento 4

A meeting with art historians Ornella Chillè and Ilaria Chia on the place and presence of women in the artist’s workshop. The images trace a kind of journey, where women are first seen in the traditional guise of painter’s model or muse, becoming more proactive later in the century. The paintings by Telemaco Signorini, Odoardo Borrani and Giacomo Favretto depict women as the visitors to artists’ studios, galleries and museums and as researchers and experts in art. Women increasingly become artists in their own right, and their path of development is depicted by painters like Gerolamo and Domenico Induno. Bologna’s own artists slide into this cultural landscape, as we can see in the works by Luigi Serra, Raffaele Faccioli, Fabio Fabbi, Giovanni Masotti, Cleto Capri and Enea Monti.
Entry is free.
For information, call +39 051 234866 (Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 13:00) or write to:info@collegioventuroli.191.it

“La Certosa di Bologna | un libro aperto sulla storia”
“The Certosa of Bologna | An Open Book on History”
Sunday 26 May, at 10:30 | guided tour
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

A walk for visitors who have never been here before, and an ABC of our Certosa, from the Etruscan cemetery and monastery to the “modern cemetery” and our best-known masterpieces, plus lots of other highlights.
Curated by Associazione Culturale Didasco.
Booking required, call +39 0348 1431230 (afternoon - evening)
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Our visitors with a Musei Metropolitani Bologna card will receive a gift at the entrance.
Tickets: € 10.00 (€ 2.00 from every ticket will go directly towards the Certosa)

“Forme di marmo | percorso tattile tra chiostri, sale e gallerie”
“Forms in Marble | A Tactile Tour Through Cloisters, Halls and Galleries"
Sunday 26 May, at 15:00 and 16:30 | guided tour
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

Roberto Martorelli and Paola Sema will guide visitors on this tour, open to all but designed especially for our visitors who are blind or visually impaired. Explore the flowers, garments, faces and bodies of the marbles and bronzes situated in Bologna’s largest monumental complex.
Curated by the Museum of the Risorgimento of Bologna.
Limited places Booking required, call +39 051 225583 or write to museorisorgimento@comune.bologna.it.
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Linked to: IT.A.CÀ - Festival of Responsible Tourism
Entry is free.

“Ritualità del silenzio | Guida per il cerimoniere funebre”
“Rituals of Silence | A Guide for the Funeral Director”
Monday 27 May, at 20:30 | conference
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

Meeting with Maria Angela Gelati, curator of the social project and showcase “Il Rumore del Lutto” (The Noise of Mourning) of Parma. The event starts with a guided tour and visitors then meet Maria Angela Gelati, author of “Ritualità del Silenzio” (Rituals of Silence), published by Nuovadimensione 2018. This event offers a window onto the new demands connected to the growing number of private and non-religious rituals taking place alongside traditional and religious ceremonies.
Curated by the Museum of the Risorgimento of Bologna.
Booking required, call +39 051 225583 or write to museorisorgimento@comune.bologna.it.
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Entry is free.

“Bologna Noir | delitti e misteri in Certosa”
“Bologna Noir | Crimes and Mysteries at the Certosa”Wednesday 29 May, at 21:00 | guided tour
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

The Certosa statues have witnessed real crimes, but the cemetery has also been the stage of fantastic tales, amid talks with ghosts and bats flying in the light of the moon. A night time tour in the midst of art, literature and mystery, in the company of Barbara Baraldi, author of “Osservatore Oscuro” (Dark Observer) published by Giunti.
Curated by Associazione Culturale Didasco.
Booking required, call +39 0348 1431230 (afternoon - evening)
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Our visitors with a Musei Metropolitani Bologna card will receive a gift at the entrance.
Tickets: € 10.00 (€ 2.00 from every ticket will go directly towards the Certosa)


“Maria Brizzi Giorgi | Diva della Musica, Musa di Rossini”
“Maria Brizzi Giorgi | Music Diva, Rossini’s Muse”
Thursday 30 May, at 17:30 | guided tour
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

A walk among work and music with Roberto Martorelli and Loris Rabiti. An insight into the cultural and social world orbiting around one of the most striking celebrities on the Jacobite stage of Bologna and elsewhere.
Curated by the Museum of the Risorgimento of Bologna.
Booking required, call +39 051 225583 or write to museorisorgimento@comune.bologna.it.
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Our visitors with a Musei Metropolitani Bologna card will receive a gift at the entrance.
Tickets: € 4.00


“Questo l'ho fatto io!”’
“I Did This!”
Wednesday 1 June, at 16:00 | guided tour
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

A walk with volunteers from “Amici della Certosa” to admire some of the ninety monuments they take care of as part of their cleaning and tidying scheme. Visitors can understand how this active citizen involvement project can help the public to maintain our heritage and learn about our history.
Curated by Associazione Amici della Certosa.
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Entry is free.
For information, call +39 345 2699200 (afternoon and evening) or write to: amicidellacertosa@gmail.com

“L'eleganza e la raffinatezza dell'Art Nouveau | due artisti a confronto”
“Elegance and Sophistication in Art Nouveau | Two Artists Compared”Sunday 2 June, ore 10.30 | guided tour
Certosa Cemetery - Via della Certosa 18

Alfonso Borghesani and Arturo Orsoni were among the most prolific artists at the Certosa in the early 20th century, creating the marbles and bronzes that adorn the cemetery landscape, in a style straddling Verism, Art Nouveau and a hint of Art Deco. This tour concentrates on these two elegant artists, in the company of Vincenzo Favaro and Roberto Martorelli.
Curated by the Museum of the Risorgimento of Bologna.
The meeting point is in the church courtyard by the main entrance to the Certosa.
Entry is free.


Information:
Museum of the Risorgimento.
Piazza Carducci 5 | 40125 Bologna
tel. + 39 051 347592
museorisorgimento@comune.bologna.it - www.museibologna.it/risorgimento
www.storiaememoriadibologna.it/certosa
Facebook: Museo civico del Risorgimento - Certosa di Bologna

WDEC 2018 in Bologna, Italy

#EuropeForCulture The 2018 summer calendar in the Certosa, Bologna Monumental Cemetery, is now here with a new series of night walks and events.

WDEC 2017 - Monumental Cemetery Certosa of Bologna

The 2017 summer calendar in the Certosa, Bologna Monumental Cemetery, is now here with a new series of night walks and events.

The collaboration of various entities of Bologna allowed putting together a very rich programme featuring 50 events: guided tours, theatre events, itinerant shows,etc.

Thus art, history, anecdotes and reflections will bring the spotlight back onto the Certosa from 28th May to 30 September 2017.

Certosa of Bologna. WDEC and Summer calendar 2016 (28 May - 28 September)

More than 50 events to take place from 28 May to 28 September inside Certosa, the Monumental Cemetery of Bologna.

A new agreement for the enhancement and promotion of the Certosa Monumental Cemetery in Bologna

A cooperation agreement was signed between the Museo civico del Risorgimento of Bologna and the Associazione Amici della Certosa.

Certosa of Bologna. WDEC and summer calendar 2015 (26 May - 29 September)

Thirty appointments plus guided visits.

Bologna, Certosa Cemetery and Sigmund Freud

Also Sigmund Freud, the founding father of psychoanalysis, visited Certosa, Bologna Monumental Cemetery.

Certosa of Bologna. Summer calendar 2014 (25th May - 30th September)

The summer calendar of events in Certosa of Bologna is back.

Volunteers at the service of the Certosa’s cultural heritage

It is stated that ordinary maintenance is the only means we have to assure the conservation of our artistic heritage. This has been known for a long time, and still has its supporters today, but it is often difficult to put into practice although it should be effected constantly in order to be effective and attain the objective of keeping to a minimum more drastic interventions of restoration.

Picking up on the agreement recently signed with the Istituzione Bologna Musei | Museo civico del Risorgimento, the Associazione Amici della Certosa is launching a project called "Il volontariato al servizio del patrimonio culturale della Certosa" (“Volunteers at the service of the Certosa’s cultural heritage”): three meetings for study and two practical experiences that will see four volunteers involved in simple cleaning operations of the Certosa’s  monuments.

Two restorers, Lucia Vanghi and Valentina Begliossi, will train willing members of the Associazione Amici della Certosa for 2014. The participants trained in this way will undertake some simple cleaning and dusting of works selected by the Museo civico del Risorgimento, in accordance with the Soprintendenza per i beni architettonici, paesaggistici delle province di Bologna Modena e Reggio Emilia - Commissione Artistica and Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali.

The preparatory meetings at the Museo del Risorgimento are also open to non-members to give all the opportunity of acquiring information and a grounding in the conservation of cultural assets. The meetings will take place on Thursday 6^th, 13^th and 23^rd February (Museo civico del Risorgimento - Piazza Carducci 5, Bologna) and Saturday 1^st and Sunday 16^th March (Certosa di Bologna - via della Certosa 18, Bologna).

More info:
Museo civico del Risorgimento di Bologna
Associazione Amici della Certosa di Bologna

WDEC 2013 in Bologna - Certosa Cemetery

On the occasion of the Week of discovering European Cemeteries, the Museum of the Risorgimento of Bologna features three guided tours during the day, two evening events and the opening of the exhibition 'Il giardino degli angeli' (The Garden of Angels) by the Bologna photographer Nino Migliori.

The first evening event will take place on May, Friday 24th at 8.30 p.m. with the presentation of the book “Giuseppe Mengoni: un'opera svelata alla Certosa di Bologna” (Giuseppe Mengoni: a work unveiled at the Certosa in Bologna), followed by a guided tour.

Giuseppe Mengoni (Fontanelice, 1829 - Milan, 1877) is well known for designing the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, although it is often forgotten that he is also the creator of the imposing headquarters of the Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna. The author of the majestic chapel dedicated to the Polish general officer Giuseppe Grabinski had been unknown until now, but thanks to the recovery of previously unpublished documents by Anna Maria Guccini it has been possible to attribute it to the famous architect.

On May, Sunday 26th the costume commemoration of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s visit to the Certosa will take place, the title being “Not a single ruin of Bologna will remain!”.

The Hero of Two Worlds arrived at the Certosa on August 16th, 1859 to commemorate the death of his friend Ugo Bassi, martyr of the Italian Risorgimento, executed by an Austrian firing squad on August 8th, 1849. Thanks to the finding of the speech delivered by Garibaldi and other previously unknown documents, several vicissitudes the two heroes went through together will be remembered. This event is the ideal continuation of the commemoration that will take place the previous day in Piazza Carducci in Bologna, entitled “Ugo Bassi - Storia e memoria” (Ugo Bassi – History and memory).

On June, Saturday 1st there will be the opening of the exhibition “Il giardino degli angeli” by the Bologna photographer Nino Migliori. He has concluded his artistic project, that lasted 4 years, within the sector of the Certosa of Bologna where children are buried. The artist provides us with an , interpretation of it that is visionary and joyful, at the same time: the colours of the toys and the beloved objects that accompanied the children’s short lives are modified to create an imaginative reality.

The last event will be on June, Sunday 2nd, featuring Briana Zaki and Valentina Franchino who will present a poetic and captivating dance show entitled “Stralunate” (Dazed).

The complete programme:
 

Friday, 24th May, 8.30 pm

Giuseppe Mengoni: un'opera svelata alla Certosa di Bologna

(Giuseppe Mengoni: a work unveiled at the Certosa in Bologna)

With Anna Maria Guccini, Daniela Sinigalliesi and Vincenzo Lucchese

Anna Maria Guccini is the author of the book who, thanks to the recovery of a few drawings, discovered the authorship – unknown until now – of the chapel dedicated to the Polish general officer Giuseppe Grabinski at the Certosa. At the end of the public presentation, a guided tour will follow, with Vincenzo Lucchese.
Free admission, booking required, please call 051.347592 (Tue-Sun 9a.m.-1p.m.) or write to museorisorgimento@comune.bologna.it

Meeting at the main entrance (Church Yard), 15 minutes before the start time.

Sunday 26th May, 9.00 pm

Di Bologna non si troveranno nemmeno le vestigia!
(Not a single ruin of Bologna will remain!)
Costume commemoration of Garibaldi’s visit to the Certosa

The Hero of Two Worlds arrived at the Certosa on August 16^th, 1859 to commemorate the death of his friend Ugo Bassi, martyr of the Italian Risorgimento, executed by an Austrian firing squad on August 8^th, 1849. Thanks to the finding of the speech delivered by Garibaldi and other previously unknown documents, several vicissitudes the two heroes went through together will be remembered. Organized by the Associations 8cento and Amici della Certosa.

Contribution required: € 8, of which 2 will be donated for the enhancement of the Cemetery. Booking required, please call 345.2699200 (afternoon-evening) or write to amicidellacertosa@gmail.com
Meeting at the main entrance of the Certosa (Church Yard), 15 minutes before the start time.

Monday 27th May, 4.30 pm
Coraggiosa pel mondo pellegrinò. L'immaginario infantile in Certosa
(Bravely she wandered the world. The infantile imagination at the Certosa)

Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli

Among the innumerable memories of the Certosa there are stories of little girls and boys, remembered also by way of majestic monuments. The visit is meant to be an introduction to the exhibition that Nino Migliori dedicates to the memory of the lost childhood.

Free admission, no booking required. Meeting at the main entrance of the Certosa (Church Yard), 15 minutes before the start time.

Tuesday 28th May, 4.30 pm

Vita petroniana: alla scoperta della nostra storia
(Life in Bologna: discovering our history)

Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli

Strolling among the Certosa cloisters and halls one can fantasize on the stories behind the Latin inscriptions, the precious marbles, the imposing chapels, the simple tombstones. The visit will reveal some well-known stories and others less so, about people from Bologna who have shaped our present day.

Free admission, no booking required. Meeting at the main entrance of the Certosa (Church Yard), 15 minutes before the start time.

Friday 31th May, 4.00 pm
La Certosa di Bologna: un libro aperto sulla Storia 

(The Bologna Certosa: a book open on History)
Guided tour with Vincenzo Lucchese and Daniela Sinigalliesi

Two exceptional guides will unveil the thousand-year old stratification of the Certosa: Etruscan necropolis, monastery and public cemetery. Delicate neoclassical graves, precious marbles and austere monuments will illustrate two centuries of art, in Bologna and in Italy.
Free admission, no booking required. Meeting at the main entrance of the Certosa (Church Yard), 15 minutes before the start time.

Saturday 1st  June, 11.00 pm

Opening of the exhibition “Il giardino degli angeli” by Nino Migliori

Museo civico del Risorgimento, Piazza Carducci 5
 

With this exhibition, the artist has concluded his artistic project, that lasted 4 years, within the sector of the Certosa of Bologna where children are buried. Nino Migliori provides us with an interpretation of it that is visionary and joyful at the same time, in which the colours of the toys and the beloved objects that accompanied the children’s short lives are modified to create an imaginative reality.

Free admission, no booking required.

Sunday 2nd June, 9.00 pm
Stralunate - Uno spettacolo di danza aerea e narrazione

(Dazed – An aerial dance and storytelling show)

Featuring and by Briana Zaki and Valentina Franchino

On the moon or with their feet firmly on the ground, two characters tell stories, also about themselves, between dreams and reality, the sky and the earth.

Booking required, please call 345.2699200 (afternoon-evening) or write to amicidellacertosa@gmail.com.
Meeting at the main entrance of the Certosa (Church Yard), 15 minutes before the start time.

Information on the entire programme:

Museo civico del Risorgiment di Bologna
tel. +39 051347592
museorisorgimento@comune.bologna.it
www.museibologna.it/risorgimento

Exhibition "Bologna Certosa with Dickens’ eyes"

The Associazione Amici della Certosa di Bologna in collaboration with Bologna Museo civico del Risorgimento and with Minerva Edizioni, worked together to organize this exhibition.