The Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna was originally the Portrait gallery for the city's College for Fine Arts. It was only in 1882 that it became a museum in its own right. It was opened to the public in 1885. The gallery is divided into sections and has a valuable collection of paintings from different periods between the 14th and 18th Centuries. There are many famous names of artists amongst the list of paintings. Some of the following are particularly famous: the fourteenth century polytych by Giotto, the late Gothic paintings by Lippo di Dalmasio and Jacopo di Paolo, as well as some masterpieces by Raffaello, Parmigianino, Franceso Cossa and Lorenzo Costa to show the Renaissance styles. The Mannerists are represented by Prospero Fontana and Bartolomeo Passarotti. There is also work by Guercino, Lorenzo Sabbatini, Denjis Calvaert and Guido Reni. Much of the museum has been given over to work by Carraccio and to the prestigious Art school which he founded. There is also an entire room which houses a collection of paintings by Crespi. Call ahead or check website to know more.

Within the Accursio palace, the seat of the City's Administration, reached via the charming Piazza Maggiore, you can visit the twenty magnificent rooms which currently hold the city's prestigious art collection. These sumptuous rooms, adorned with decoration and frescoes painted between the 16th and 19th Centuries, constituted, until 1859, the main seat of pontifical justice in Bolgna. The collection of works exhibited, which has been on show since 1935, was built up through private purchases and conspicuous donations to the community of Bologna by several wealthy families: the Palagi, Baruzzi, Pepoli, Verzaglia and Pizzardi families. The collection are worth visiting since they include several master works by famous Bolognese artists, such as Simone dei Crocifissi, Jacopo di Paolo, Vitale da Bologna, Francesco Francia, Bartolomeo Passerotti, Jacopo Tintoretto, Ludovico Carracci, Giuseppe Maria Crespi, Gaetano Gandolfi, Angelo Michele Colonna.

In the hall of the Palazzo d'Accursio, the Museo Morandi is the most important collection of works of the Bolognese maestro Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964). This came into being thanks to the donations that the famous painters sister made to the council and was opened in 1993, putting over 200 works on show placed side by side with a rich collection of volumes and numerous works of art belonging to Morandi himself. Inside the museum there is even a reconstruction of the studio in which the artist worked.

If you want to admire some of the best contemporary European artwork, Galleria Stefano Forni is the place to go. Opened in 1996, this beautiful gallery hosts various exhibitions throughout the year, featuring both solo and thematic shows. You will see striking pieces of print, sculpture, painting and photography.