Along Strada Maggiore a Gothic portico widens until it becomes a cloister open to the city. It's one of Bologna's most elegant porticoes and, at Christmas, the busiest.
The basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi was founded in the mid-14th century by the Order of the Servants of Mary and grew over the centuries thanks to bequests from wealthy families. Its portico, with slender columns and round arches, runs along the side of the church and then opens into a large four-sided portico in front of the façade. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage porticoes of Bologna. Inside, works by great masters are hidden among the chapels. From November to the end of December the stalls of the Antica Fiera di Santa Lucia arrive under these arches: for many Bolognese, this is where Christmas really begins.
