The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita is a late-Baroque-style, Roman Catholic church in central Bologna, near the Piazza Maggiore.

The construction of the present Baroque church began in 1687-1690 under the designs of Giovanni Battista Bergonzoni, who built the elliptical plan with a dome designed by Giuseppe Tubertini, completed in 1787. It's the one of the few Baroque-style buildings in Bologna. Although this artistic and architectural movement blossomed in Rome and dominated the art scene for almost 2 centuries until 1750, Baroque was indeed born out of the school of Bolognese painters "Carracci."

Under its grand dome featuring some splendid ceiling artwork lies the Oratory of Battuti which perfectly exemplifies the Baroque decorative grandeur, its walls and vaults being lavished with gold and valuable paintings and frescoes. It is also home to an amazing 15th-century artwork by Alfonso Lombardi representing the group of the twelve Apostles around the Virgin's tomb.
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita is mostly famous for housing a masterpiece by Niccolò dell'Arca, a collection of life-size terracotta statues, depicting the Lamentation (Compianto sul Cristo morto). All figures show extreme emotions and are incredible to behold but that of Mary Magdalene dramatically stands out and is considered one of the most powerful sculptures of the Italian Renaissance.

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita

Via Clavature 10, Bologna