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All Italy Bologna Relics in the Basilica of San Domenico

Relics in the Basilica of San Domenico

A diverse collection of wax, bone, papier-maché and mummified relics.

Bologna, Italy

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2024 Serafino Capponi (theologian)   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024 Shrine of patron saint Dominicua Guzman   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024 reliquary with the skull of Diana of Andalo   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
The Basilica in eerie fog.   JamazingClayton / Atlas Obscura User
The Ark of St. Dominic in St. Dominic’s Chapel.   JamazingClayton / Atlas Obscura User
Golden reliquary with the head of St. Dominic by the artist Jacopo Roseto.   JamazingClayton / Atlas Obscura User
2024 reliquary with the skull of Diana of Andalo   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024 Relics   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024 Relics   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This celebrated baroque Basilica is quite large, and as one wanders the echoing church they will find a number of relics sprinkled throughout.

The relic of St. Dominic is found in the form of his skull, encased in a decorative gold reliquary atop an altar. At the far end of the church lays the spectacularly fresh looking Blessed James of Ulm.

At first, the full figure in the glass coffin appears to be the very fresh face of a mummified relic, but he is in fact a wax figure. His true remains are kept in a discrete urn nearby. To the left of the coffin, hanging on the wall is what also appears to be actual mummified remains, in this case of Ven. Serafino Capponi, a noted theologian. Capponi is posed with his head tilted lifelessly to one side, holding a cross in his brown withered hands. But this too is an illusion. The bust is actually papier-maché, although it is said to cover his true remains.

However the church is not without true relics, in fact it has a whole room full of them. At the back of the church is a small reliquary museum full of real bodily bits of saints. The glass cases are full with mummified finger relics in fantastically ornate reliquaries, alongside a wide collection of stunning monstrances, chalices and works of macabre bone art.

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Relics Saints Relics And Reliquaries
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Skjel, historicholly, mbison, michelle...

  • Skjel
  • historicholly
  • mbison
  • michelle
  • Grave with a view Marjolein
  • JamazingClayton

Published

December 14, 2009

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Relics in the Basilica of San Domenico
Piazza San Dominico 13
Via Garibaldi
Bologna, 40124
Italy
44.48962, 11.343453
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