The Corpus Domini Sanctuary, popularly known as the Church of the Saint, was founded as a monastery on 22 July 1456 by Saint Catherine de’ Vigri, at the request of the authorities of Bologna, becoming the first convent of Poor Clare nuns in the city. The present church was built a few decades later, between 1477 and 1480, to provide the monastery with a suitable place of worship. The work was entrusted to the Tuscan architects Nicolò Marchionne of Florence and Francesco Fucci of Dozza. The name “Corpus Domini” recalls the original monastery in Ferrara from which Catherine came, itself named in reference to a famous Eucharistic miracle that occurred in the church of Santa Maria in Vado in Ferrara.
In the centuries that followed, the sanctuary experienced various events. In 1687, Cardinal Giacomo Monti, an art enthusiast, promoted a radical Baroque renovation: the vaults were raised and the interior was enriched with frescoes by Marcantonio Franceschini, stuccoes by Giuseppe Maria Mazza, and decorations by Enrico Haffner, making the church one of the most representative examples of Bolognese Baroque. During the Napoleonic occupation, however, the monastery was suppressed and the nuns were expelled; only in 1816, after the Restoration, were the Poor Clares able to return. In the early 20th century, the Renaissance façade was restored by historian Alfonso Rubbiani to recover its original splendor.
The Renaissance terracotta façade of the Corpus Domini Sanctuary, built in the 15th century, displays elegant decorative reliefs attributed to Sperandio da Mantova.
Unfortunately, the sanctuary suffered severe damage during the Second World War: an Allied bombing in October 1943 struck the adjacent Cialdini barracks and also devastated the church, destroying the vaults and much of the Baroque decoration; even the historic terracotta portal was shattered. In the postwar period, the Superintendence carried out an immediate restoration, reassembling the portal (under the direction of sculptor Giovanni Vicini) and restoring the church as much as possible. The cloistered monastery remained active until 2023, when the last Poor Clare nuns relocated elsewhere; the sanctuary, however, continues to remain open for worship and for the veneration of the faithful.
Externally, the church features a sober and elegant brick façade, the only surviving original element from the 15th century. The Renaissance terracotta portal, adorned with refined bas-reliefs, is traditionally attributed to the sculptor Sperandio da Mantova. Above the entrance door, inside a small shrine, are preserved the relics of Blessed Giovanna Lambertini, a companion of Saint Catherine; in an adjacent niche lie the remains of another Poor Clare, Paola Mezzavacca, testifying to the lasting memory of the first nuns of the community.
The present interior is the result of postwar reconstruction, yet it still preserves part of its original 18th-century Baroque charm. The single nave, covered by raised barrel vaults, is decorated with stuccoes and with the remaining frescoes from the cycle designed by Franceschini and collaborators in 1687. Marcantonio Franceschini was also the author, among other works, of the famous Death of Saint Joseph (1692), which is housed in the church. Several 17th-century paintings by Lodovico Carracci, surviving the wartime destruction, can also be admired.
A feature of great historical interest is the Galvani Chapel, located to the left of the nave: here rest the renowned scientist Luigi Galvani (1737–1798), a pioneer in the study of animal electricity, and his wife Lucia Galleazzi Galvani, who was also a scientist. Over their tomb, marked by a stone slab in the center of the floor, stands a large stucco crucifix created in 1957 by the sculptor Alfonso Bortolotti. The original chapel once housed statues by Angelo Piò and allegorical paintings (including a Prudence attributed to Franceschini), many of which were lost or relocated after the war. The scientist Laura Bassi (1711–1778), the first woman to earn a university degree and to teach science, is also buried in this church; a marble plaque in the nave marks her tomb.
The Sanctuary includes the Chapel of Saint Catherine, where original paintings created by the Saint are displayed (such as the Madonna of the Pomegranate with the tender Infant Jesus), along with manuscripts of her works (a breviary and the treatise The Seven Spiritual Weapons), as well as numerous personal objects.
Of particular interest is Saint Catherine’s small viola, her stringed musical instrument: it is in fact a fifteenth-century viella, an extremely rare example of a medieval lute that has survived to the present day. Visitors can also see the bed used by Catherine, some original furnishings from the convent, reliquaries, and liturgical vestments donated over the centuries through popular devotion.
Together, these spiritual and artistic treasures make Corpus Domini a place of living memory, where the sacred and culture are inextricably intertwined. It is not merely a tourist destination, but above all a living sanctuary, where one can truly perceive the legacy of holiness and the history of Bologna.
1. Feast of Saint Catherine:
Celebrated on March 9, the anniversary of the Saint’s death. Each year, on this date (or on the closest Sunday), the sanctuary hosts solemn celebrations in honor of Saint Catherine, with the participation of the faithful of Bologna and of the city’s religious communities. Around this day, the traditional Octave of Saint Catherine takes place: eight days of prayers and special Masses from March 8 to 16, during which the Saint’s Chapel remains exceptionally open every day to welcome the many pilgrims. The Octave is a deeply cherished moment: throughout the week, various ecclesial groups take turns leading the liturgy, paying homage to the Saint with chants and reflections.
2. Other celebrations:
Throughout the liturgical year, the sanctuary follows the ecclesiastical calendar with the usual celebrations of the major feasts (Christmas, Easter, and others), all open to the faithful. In addition, guided tours or special openings may take place during cultural events in the city (such as Le Sette Chiese or routes of Sacred Bologna promoted by local cultural organizations), offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the history and art of the Corpus Domini with the help of expert guides. Visitors are encouraged to consult official channels (the Municipality’s tourist website or notices displayed in the church) for updates on temporary events and initiatives.
Visiting Hours:
Sanctuary: open every day, from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Free admission; offerings are welcome and are intended for the support and preservation of the Sanctuary.
Chapel of Saint Catherine: open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. During these hours, it is possible to see the incorrupt body of the Saint up close. On the other days, the chapel remains closed, but the Saint is still visible through a grate from the main nave.
Visitors are kindly advised to always check the updated schedule, as hours may change. During liturgical celebrations (Holy Masses, community prayers), tourist visits are suspended. For detailed information, visitors may contact the Sanctuary. Appropriate attire is required in this sacred place; silence and respectful behavior are requested during the visit.