Riccardo Parmeggiani

The article addresses the oldest preserved pastoral visits to the diocese of Bologna, dating back to the long episcopate of the Carthusian Niccolò Albergati (1417-1443). The six documented visits (1417, 1420, 1425, 1433, 1434, 1437) were carried out mainly by Episcopal vicars, but nevertheless Albergati’s role, even if indirect, was decisive. Starting from the experience gained as a visitor of the Italian Carthusian houses, the cardinal used pastoral visits as the most appropriate instrument for the development of a reformatory plan, whose guidelines were indeed suggested by the outcome of diocesan inspections...