Certosa di Bologna

The Certosa di Bologna is a large cemetery museum spread across 30 hectares of land in Bologna. Here lie the graves of some prominent Italian and Bolognese persons like Lucio Dalla, a famous musician, founders of Maserati and Ducati, Giorgio Morandi, a talented painter, and others.

Frescoes, paintings and sculptures provide company to the dead. A prodigious Elisabetta Sirani is one of the most extraordinary works here. The cemetery was established in 1801 over what was left of a Carthusian convent from the 14th century. The Church of San Girolamo nearby is a relic of the ancient convent. Many artists have contributed to the beautification of the cemetery, making it less dreadful. The graves were adorned with paintings; statues and sculptures took their place in the 19th century. There is a separate Ossuary Monument for Partisan Soldiers of WWII and the grave of Irma Bandiera, a woman with a prominent role during the War. The Certosa hosts concerts, plays and guided tours during summer.