Love music? history? architecturally significant buildings? All this and more come with a visit to the superb San Colombano Museum in Bologna. Built around the Tagliavini Collection of Musical Instruments, and housed in a former church dating from the 7th century, this little treasure trove scores on all three counts.
When Tom and I had a chance to tour the museum with curator Liuwe Tamminga, protege of founder Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, we knew we were in for a treat. Our one-hour visit stretched to almost three, and we thrilled to see many of the instruments in action.
The Tagliavini Collection of Musical Instruments
The Tagliavini collection was assembled by Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, Bolognese musician and scholar, over several decades. It contains about 80 instruments, including harpisichords, spinets, pianos, clavichords and other instruments.
Instruments from European capitals also show Italian influence: an Italian-style bentside spinet from Paris (1691) was made by a traveling builder, and decorated in the style of Versailles. There are square pianos built in London and Amsterdam in 1786, and from the 19th century, a half-sloping console piano from Paris and grand pianos from Vienna and Berlin.
The building: an atmospheric church
The former church has atmosphere aplenty: from the main floor with its high arched ceiling and cupolas, to a richly decorated private chapel, to the organ loft with its rope pull still connected to the building’s bell tower. There are wonderful frescoes, nicely restored; and the Oratory on an upper level which includes works by most of the leading 18th century Bolognese painters. This room alone is worth a visit to San Colombano.
Recent restoration works revealed a 13th century mural crucifixion attributed to Giunta Pisano, a medieval crypt and an 8th century tomb. Glass panels on the main floor allow visitors to see the archeological work underway below ground.
Whatever their theme, small museums and special collections that showcase the passion behind the works get my attention. Add in the enthusiasm and knowledge of a curator such as Liuwe Tamminga, and a visit morphs into something special indeed.
For an introduction to the beautiful music they make together at St. Petronius, watch this video, Tagliavini e Tamminga suonano gli organi di S. Petronio (5:54).
A unique performance venue
San Colombano is one of several museums under the Genus Bononaie umbrella. However, it is surely unique in that regularly scheduled concerts are played on the historically significant instruments in the collection. All of them are maintained in good working order.
Tinkling, clicking, clinking or thudding, with sounds high-pitched or bassoon-like, each instrument remains true to its epoch and style of music in vogue at the time it was built.
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Thanks to Liuwe Tamminga for an extraordinary introduction to early music and our tour of the San Colombano, just one of Bologna’s Genus Bononnaie museums. Grazie mille! to Emilia Romagna Tourism for hosting our stay in Italy. Impressions and opinions, as ever, are my own.
What a stunning room and collections, I would love to tour this lovely place – thanks for the wonderful tour.
It’s a spectacular venue, Noel, and perfect for these marvelous instruments!
Love to see, and especially hear these antique instruments.
Yes, they’re quite special, and the museum is something very different to the usual collection of historical artifacts!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such stunningly decorated instruments. Imagine the love and care that went into creating each one of the items in Bologna’s San Colombano Museum. Just beautiful.
Thanks Betsy…for me, the passionate curator of the collection made the visit something very special. He’s an accomplished musician, and passionate about the instruments and the stories behind them!
What an amazing collection and yes, you summed me up in the opening lines with what I like
If you like all those things, Paula, you’d love this museum!
Those have to be some of the most beautiful instruments I have ever seen in my life. I’ve been mulling going to that region of Italy and you may have tipped the scales for me!
Do put San Colombano on your list, if you are every in Bologna. It’s a great museum!
What a stunning collection of musical instruments. I would love to explore this museum and really soak up all the history and beauty. Thanks for the lovely tour.
This is just one of the city’s fantastic museums in atmospheric settings. Highly recommended!