Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi Travel Guide

Located on Strada Maggiore, the Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi is a striking example of Gothic architecture in Bologna. The basilica was founded in 1346 as the church of the Servite Community of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Andrea da Faenza, a head friar and architect, designed the church and assisted Antonio di Vincenzo on the Basilica of San Petronio. In the 20th century, Pope Pius XII granted the church the status of "basilica".The basilica's exterior is characterized by its plain, undecorated brick facade. The facade, constructed in several phases, was never fully decorated. A remarkable feature is its courtyard or atrium, enclosed by a wide arcade, reminiscent of Early Christian churches. The airy four-sided portico with marble columns began construction in 1393 and finished between the 16th and 19th centuries.The interior of the basilica has three naves divided by octagonal and circular columns. The chapels are frescoed with masterpieces by important Bolognese artists, including Marcantonio Franceschini, Denis Calvaert, Luigi Crespi, and Lippo di Dalmasio. The altar is made of marble, sculpted in the 16th century by Giovanni Montorsoli. One of the basilica's most prized possessions is the "Enthroned Madonna" by Cimabue. The complex also has a bell tower, approximately 52 meters high.