Visit the Archiginnasio Palace and Anathomical Theatre

The Archiginnasio Palace, commissioned by Cardinal Carlo Borromeo and completed between 1562 and 1563, stands as one of Bologna’s most important historical and cultural landmarks. Designed by the renowned Bolognese architect Antonio Morandi, known as Terribilia, the building was created during the era of the Council of Trent with the goal of unifying the city’s scattered university faculties into a single prestigious center. Its monumental exterior is defined by a striking portico of thirty arches, while the architectural layout is organized around a large central courtyard framed by elegant double loggias that reflect the refined Renaissance style of the period.

Inside, two grand staircases lead to the upper floor, where ten classrooms once hosted some of Europe’s most influential scholars. Although these rooms are not open to the public today, visitors can admire the two magnificent halls located at each end of the building. One originally served the Artists—now functioning as the Reading Room of the Library—while the other, dedicated to the Legisti, later became known as the historic Stabat Mater Hall. Together, these spaces preserve the legacy of Bologna’s academic excellence and the Archiginnasio’s role as the heart of the world’s oldest university.