Ancient Saint Lucia Fair

Bologna's oldest Christmas fair

In the heart of Bologna's historic center, under the long and evocative Portico of the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi on Strada Maggiore, the Ancient Saint Lucia Fair is renewed every year: the oldest Christmas event in the capital and the entire Emilia-Romagna region. It is an unmissable stop for a Bolognese Christmas, just a short walk from the Two Towers, where the tradition of the nativity scene meets the aromas of sweets prepared on the spot.

A history that began in the 16th century

The fair's origins date back to the late 16th century, when Pope Gregory XIII donated a relic of Saint Lucia to the diocese of Bologna. The Jesuit Fathers built a church in Via Castiglione to house it: the first stalls selling sacred icons and sweets related to the feast day sprang up on its steps. During the Napoleonic era, the fair was temporarily suppressed, only to be reborn under the monumental portico of the Basilica of the Servi, where it is still held today.

What to find among the stalls

The fair's charm lies in the timeless appeal of handmade nativity scenes. Under the portico, the stalls display:

• Nativity figurines and figures in terracotta, wood, and papier-mâché, following the Bolognese nativity tradition
• Christmas decorations and ornaments, glass and ceramic baubles, handmade candles
• Sweets prepared on-site: nougats, brittle candies, cotton candy, sweets
• Historic specialties such as mistocchine (fritters made from anise-flavored chestnut flour, toasted on a griddle) and zaletti, yellow cornmeal biscuits

Among the most famous stalls are those of historic nativity scene makers, some of whom have passed down the art for generations.

A Bolognese Christmas event

Open daily with continuous hours, the fair is part of the broader calendar of Christmas markets in the Municipality of Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, along with the French Market in Piazza Minghetti and the stalls on Via Altabella. Strolling under the decorated Portico dei Servi, amidst the scent of nougat and illuminated figurines, is one of the most authentic ways to experience the Advent atmosphere in the city.