Scaravilli Square

The square, now defined by its four-sided portico, has undergone a series of historical transformations that reflect the evolving identity of both the University of Bologna and the city itself.

The roots of the site date back to 1711, when geographer and scientist Luigi Ferdinando Marsili established the Institute of Sciences in a 16th-century building formerly owned by Cardinal Poggi. Marsili envisioned a multidisciplinary centre dedicated to scientific advancement—housing military architecture, geography, urban planning, and astronomy. At the heart of this vision was the construction of the Specola, an astronomical observatory tower located in what was then a darkened area of Bologna, ideal for celestial observation. This connection to light and darkness ties the space intrinsically to the themes explored in the Art of Darkness project. The Specola, now part of Palazzo Poggi, remains a symbolic landmark of the university.

The Napoleonic reforms of the early 19th century brought sweeping changes to Bologna’s academic landscape. In 1802, the Archiginnasio was sold, and teaching activities were consolidated around Marsili’s Institute of Sciences, giving rise to the modern Napoleonic University. This shift also marked the beginning of a close institutional relationship with the newly established Academy of Fine Arts, reinforcing the area as a key cultural and educational hub.

Urban planning visions for the square emerged in the late 19th century, notably through engineer Raffaele Cappellini’s 1888 proposal for a civic campus modelled after Piazza Verdi. However, the transformation of the area only gained momentum in the 1930s, when large portions of the medieval neighbourhoods of San Giacomo and Sant’Apollonia were demolished under Fascist-era urban modernization campaigns. The resulting architecture, completed between the 1950s and 1970s by architects such as Luigi Vignali, Enea Trenti, and Enzo Zacchiroli, sought to blend modern design with the historical urban fabric. Key buildings include the Department of Economics and the Walter Bigiavi Library.

The naming of Piazza Scaravilli commemorates Antonino Scaravilli, a law student and partisan who was killed during the war of liberation. His legacy, and that of other students who resisted Fascist forces, endows the square with profound symbolic significance for the university community.

For much of the late 20th century, the square served as a parking lot and a space of transit rather than congregation. However, its role shifted dramatically following a major revitalization initiative under the EU-funded ROCK project in 2017. Today, Piazza Scaravilli functions as a vibrant public space, hosting graduation ceremonies and cultural events, and serving as a focal point for student life. Its latest transformation completes a historical arc spanning over three centuries, reaffirming the square’s place as a dynamic intersection of memory, learning, and urban identity.