Statue Of Pope Gregory XIII Over The Front Entrance Of The D'Accursio Palace In Bologna, Italy. Editorial Photo

Pictured is a statue of Pope Gregory XIII over the front entrance of the d'Accursio Palace on the western end of the Main Square of Bologna, Italy. The statue was installed in 1580 and dominated the main square unchanged for two centuries. When the Napoleonic invasion of Italy ended the long rule of the Papal States over Bologna the statue was saved from destruction by disguising it as Saint Petronius, the patron saint of Bologna. In 1895 the statue was returned to its original appearance, but the inscription dedicated to Saint Petronius remains to this day, leading some to think the statue represents the patron saint of Bologna. The inscription reads 'Saint Petronius Protector and Father'.