About
The Sepolcri dei Glossatori, or the "Tombs of the Glossators," are monumental 13th-century funerary structures situated to the rear of the Basilica of San Francesco.
The tombs house the remains of a group of renowned medieval jurists who founded the Bolognese School of Law. These individuals became known as "glossators" because they commented on Roman law texts with explanatory additions in the margins, or the "glosses," to clarify the content of the passages under consideration.
The striking elevated funerary monuments are situated directly behind the church's apse and can easily be seen from the public path running behind the church.
Originally there were five tombs here, but today only three remain visible; these three were restored in the late 19th century.
These tombs represent a unique historical and architectural feature, bearing witness to the importance the city and the University of Bologna (the oldest university in the Western world) placed on their masters of law.
Know Before You Go
Two further Sepolcri dei Glossatori can be found at the location of the old churchyard of the Basilica of San Domenico.
Community Contributors
Added By
Published
August 7, 2026
