Palazzo Bentivoglio, Bologna

Contemporary chroniclers and scholars have attempted to reconstruct the appearance of the great house on the basis of often enthusiastic descriptions.

The decision to destroy it was made by the enemies of the Bentivoglio family, who had come to see their rule of Bologna as tyrannous and had co-operated with Pope Julius II to bring about their expulsion from the city in late 1506.

The city's new rulers were convinced that it was necessary to raze the house of tyrants if you wanted to prevent their return, and the Senate accordingly decreed that any emblem or sign of the Bentivoglios' past domination must be destroyed.

The entrance leads into a spacious courtyard surrounded by a double loggia that was based on designs by Domenico Tibaldi.

There is a large gallery painted by in chiaroscuro style Antonio Bonetti with sculptures by Ubaldo Gandolfi.