Complex of San Colombano

The origins of the complex have been traced back to Roman or later ancient times. In the 7th century, Bishop Peter I ordered the building of the original nucleus of the complex. Its whole development continued throughout the Middle Ages.
In 1679, the buildings passed on to the Republic of Lucca, which used them as lodgings for students in Bologna. The portico was also added during this century.
The church dedicated to San Colombano now provides an exceptional setting for the collection of musical instruments by Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini; there are also interesting paintings, one of which has been linked to Lippo di Dalmasio. The latter was the creator of a votive image of the Madonna dell'Orazione painted on the outer wall of the church. Given the negative reaction at the time, it was decided to conceal the work, so a chapel was duly built. It preserves one of the most important fresco cycles of the counter-reformation of Bologna, featuring the work of the painters of the Accademia degli Incamminati, which brings together the Carracci artists and their brightest students.
After the first World War it became the headquarters of the War Veteran Invalids Association and was restored by the young Giuseppe Vaccaro, who was then tasked with the construction of many other buildings to house the families of fighters who had suffered war injuries.