Torresotto di Porta Nova: Attraction informations
The Torresotto di Porta Nova, or gate of Porta Nova, is an often forgotten monument of Bologna. It reminds us of the second ring of walls that surrounded the city, the one called in fact Torresotti ring. Even the long and narrow shape of the square that opens before the tower, Piazza Malpighi, reminds us of how this was not a square, but part of the moat that surrounded the city walls.
In the street that starts right after its main arch we can find the current synagogue, easily recognised by its façade decorated with the Shield of David, and the gravestone in memory of the many Jews who, expelled during World War II, never made it back.
The Torresotto, finished in 1192, was used at first as a defensive building. In fact, we can still see under its main arch the remains of the cornerstones to where the old gates that closed the city were attached. A few years after the construction of the second ring of walls, the city grew so much that building an even bigger ring of walls became mandatory; of this ring we have little evidence as it was almost completely destroyed during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The story of Gentile Budrioli
Once it lost its original defensive function, the Torresotto di Porta Nova passed into private hands. It became famous again towards the end of 1400 as the home of a notorious woman accused of sorcery. The woman was called
Gentile Budrioli. Wife of a well-known notary, she was passionate, intelligent, curious and cultured. Her craving for knowledge frequently took her to the cloisters of the nearby Franciscan complex, where she learned botanics and pharmacy, her great passions.
In no time she was considered a miracle healer and her legend reached
Ginevra Sforza, Giovanni II Bentivoglio’ s wife, lady of the city of Bologna. A
strong friendship was born between both women; a friendship soon to be destroyed by the false charges against them.
Bentivoglio was soon slandered by his enemies, who doubted his independency as both women were often present in court. Ginevra Sforza was so high above the ranks she was almost untouchable, so who paid the toll was of course Gentile.
Accused of sorcery, she was prosecuted and confessed after weeks of unbearable torture. She was
executed with such cruelty that even the commentators were horrified.
It is quite ironic that, right in front of the site of such terrible events, centuries later a statue of the Holy Virgin has been placed. The statue has been and is still nowadays strongly worshipped by the Bolognese people. In fact, every year on the 8 of December, the Bolognese celebrate “
La Fiorita”: the statue, built in 1638 by the design of
Guido Reni, is decorated with flowers by the fireman of Bologna. This tradition was born in 1854 in remembrance of the moment when the “Immaculate Conception” became one of the Christian dogmas.
