Overview
Santa Maria dei Servi Basilica
A splendid example of Gothic architecture
Santa Maria dei Servi Basilica is located on Strada Maggiore and is a splendid example of Gothic architecture.
Construction on the Basilica began in 1393 and ended between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries thanks to the efforts of Father Andrea Manfredi.
The Basilica is fronted by a spacious four-colonnade cloister, while its late-Gothic Bolognese interiors are divided into three naves by circular columns alternating with octagonal pillars that support pointed arches and a vaulted ceiling.
The side and apse chapels are filled with works of art such as the Madonna Enthroned by Cimabue, the Eternal Father by Guercino and other well-known works of art by artists such as Crespi, Albani, and Calvaert.
The building also has a bell tower that is roughly 52 meters tall. It is characterized by columns and an architectural feature shared by the four-sided colonnade opposite the church.
This colonnade also stars in a famous film by Pier Paolo Pasolini, Oedipus Rex.
Also worth a mention is the precious pipe organ preserved inside the Basilica.
