Backblip: Bologna

Another full on day, this time in Bologna. We covered a lot of ground.

Here we are visiting the Palazzo Archiginnassio, once the main building of the University (reputedly the oldest in Europe). The image is taken in the Anatomical Theatre, our guide is explaining how the public dissections of bodies worked (the necessary involvement of the church and how that worked was interesting). The slab on which bodies were placed is a replica - we saw the original in a museum, blood stains still ingrained into the marble.

Art and Science were not opposing things during the Renaissance, they intersected in all sorts of interesting ways. The more realistic way of drawing and painting was founded on a deeper understanding of anatomy.

A temporary extra - statuary in the room, wonderfully carved - if a little gruesome.