Santo Stefano (Bologna)

Santo Stefano (Bologna)

Santo Stefano's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di Santo Stefano) is a complex of religious edifices in the city of Bologna, Italy. Located in the eponymous square, it is locally known as Sette Chiese ("Seven Churches").

According to tradition, it was built by Saint Petronius, who was bishop of the city during the 5th century, over a temple of the goddess Isis. The church of St. John the Baptist (or of the Holy Crucifix) dates from the 8th century, while that of the Holy Sepulchre from the 5th (renovated in the 12th century), as well as that of San Vitale ed Agricola (renovated in the 8th and 11th centuries). A 13th century portico known as Pilate's Courtyard connects the other buildings to the church of the Holy Trinity (13th century).

Pilate's Courtyard recalls the lithostrotos, where Jesus was condemned and leads to the Church of the Seplulchre. In the center, a basin called the "Catino di Pilato": is a lombard work from 737-744 with the following inscription:

« + UMILIB(US) VOTA SUSCIPE D(OMI)NE D(OM)N(ORUM) N(OST)R(ORUM) LIUTPRAN(TE) ILPRAN(TE) REGIB(US) ET D(OM)N(O) BARBATU EPISC(OPO) S(AN)C(TE) HECCL(ESIE) B(O)N(ONIEN)S(I)S. HIC I(N) H(ONOREM) R(ELIGIOSI) SUA PRAECEPTA OBTULERUNT, UNDE HUNC VAS IMPLEATUR IN CENAM D(OMI)NI SALVAT(ORI)S, ET SI QUA MUN(ER)A C(UISQUAM) MINUERIT, D(EU)S REQ(UIRET) »

Under the portico at the center of a window on a column in a 14th century sculpted rooster, called the Rooster of St Peter and recalls the biblical story of Peter's denial.