The Archiginnasio of Bologna is one of the most significant palaces of the city of Bologna: located in the heart of the historical centre, it was the seat of the ancient University and is now the seat of the Archiginnasio Municipal Library. The Palace was built by Cardinal Borromeo between 1562 and 1563 on a project by the architect Antonio Morandi called Terribilia as the seat of the University (until 1803).
It was seriously damaged by a bombing in 1944 and was later rebuilt. Two wide staircases lead to the upper floor which has classrooms (which cannot be visited today) and two magic rooms, one for the Artists (today the Reading Room) and one for the Legists (called the Stabat Mater Room).
Very famous is the Anatomical Theatre, built in wood carved by Antonio Levante in 1637 for the teaching of anatomy. Inside are the famous statues of the Spellati by Ercole Lelli.
