If you are spending your holiday anywhere near to the city of Bologna in the region of Emilia Romagna, you should take a day trip to explore the fascinating portico networked city of Bologna! Set to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the coming years, the old city centre of Bologna has over forty kilometres of porticoes criss-crossing the area. Those wishing to stay nearby for a few days can choose one of our charming holiday rentals in Monzuno, just over half an hour's drive away.
Some of Bologna's first porticos were wooden ones and were built in later centuries in the style of Gothic, Renaissance and 19th century style stone porches. Tourists walking through this unique city have certainly no need to bring an umbrella as practically everywhere you go, you have a roof over your head!
Some of Bologna's first porticos were wooden ones and were built in later centuries in the style of Gothic, Renaissance and 19th century style stone porches. Tourists walking through this unique city have certainly no need to bring an umbrella as practically everywhere you go, you have a roof over your head!
During the middle ages, many European cities built porticoes in their main market squares to shelter people as they went about their business but Bologna’s citizens appreciated them so much that they continued to build them to all across the city!
In 1363, it was ordered that no more wooden porticos were to be built and many that were in use were knocked down and rebuilt with brick or stone. Luckily, visitors can still see what the wooden ones would have looked like as a few have survived from the 13th century.
Now Bologna is as famous for its Porticoes as it is for its signature dish, spaghetti bolognese!
The ancient city’s longest portico is nearly four kilometres long and leads out of the city, up a steep hill to the sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. It was built to shelter the many people who made a pilgrimage up it regularly to worship and was mostly paid for by the city’s citizens.
In 1363, it was ordered that no more wooden porticos were to be built and many that were in use were knocked down and rebuilt with brick or stone. Luckily, visitors can still see what the wooden ones would have looked like as a few have survived from the 13th century.
Now Bologna is as famous for its Porticoes as it is for its signature dish, spaghetti bolognese!
The ancient city’s longest portico is nearly four kilometres long and leads out of the city, up a steep hill to the sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. It was built to shelter the many people who made a pilgrimage up it regularly to worship and was mostly paid for by the city’s citizens.
It’s decoratively built, with over six hundred arches and represents the civic and religious spirit of the Bologna people. Every year since 1433 on the fourth Saturday after Easter, processions of people carry the painting of Madonna di San Luca down from the sanctuary in and around the city.
Any other time of the year, visitors who don’t mind climbing plenty of steps can enjoy the stunning architecture and artistic interior of the San Luca Basilica when they reach the top of the Monte della Guardia. The church closes for lunch at noon for two hours so perhaps it would be a nice idea to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawn where you can enjoy all of Bologna’s delicious food delicacies.
A trip to Bologna city for the day, walking around its magnificent porticoes is guaranteed to enrich your holiday experience in Italy!
Any other time of the year, visitors who don’t mind climbing plenty of steps can enjoy the stunning architecture and artistic interior of the San Luca Basilica when they reach the top of the Monte della Guardia. The church closes for lunch at noon for two hours so perhaps it would be a nice idea to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawn where you can enjoy all of Bologna’s delicious food delicacies.
A trip to Bologna city for the day, walking around its magnificent porticoes is guaranteed to enrich your holiday experience in Italy!
Photo credits
picture 1: Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Paul Barker Hemings / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Mattis / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Paul Barker Hemings / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Mattis / CC BY-SA 3.0
