Last updated: 29 July 2021

They are an architectural element that is particularly central to the city's identity, and the reason Bologna is known throughout the world: we are talking about its porticoes, now inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List. They join Padova Urbs picta, the collection of fresco cycles preserved inside eight religious and civic buildings in the historic centre, and Montecatini Terme, among the European spa towns. All wonderful news for the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

The porticoes as an identifying feature of the city of Bologna

No less famous than the towers, the porticoes had already earned Bologna the title of city with the longest continuous system of arcaded walkways in the world: they stretch for more than 38 kilometres in the historic centre alone, and reach 53 kilometres when those outside the city gates are included. A record. Their history appears to date back to shortly after the year 1000: they arose spontaneously to increase the habitable space of houses; upper floors of greater volume were built, making porticoes necessary to support these new structures. They were also useful for allowing people to move about freely in any weather, and they encouraged community life and commercial activities, which developed extensively precisely beneath the porticoes.

For this reason too, the porticoes are recognised as "an identifying feature of the city of Bologna, both by the local community and by visitors, and are a point of reference for a sustainable urban lifestyle, in which religious and civic spaces and the homes of all social classes are perfectly integrated" — so read the nomination, which was evaluated positively and led to the achievement of this important result.

A walk to fully enjoy the porticoes in Bologna

The unmissable experience for making the most of Bologna's porticoes — and the wonderful view over the city — is the walk to San Luca along the portico of via Saragozza. The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a place of worship known to all Bolognesi, but it is also very popular among those with no religious inclination, and it is easy to understand why.

It is a route of almost 4 kilometres beneath the longest portico in Europe, built specifically to facilitate the procession that carries the effigy of the Madonna and Child from San Luca down to the Basilica of San Petronio. The procession has taken place every year since 1433; over the course of 3.7 kilometres, 666 arches and 15 chapels are passed through. The number 666 brings to mind something diabolical, and indeed it is said that the road that winds down from the hill of Guardia represents the devil crushed beneath the Madonna during her descent from the Sanctuary. The climb towards San Luca is often used as a path of purification or a penance to be paid for one's misdeeds. The view that awaits at the end, however, is anything but a punishment — it is pure wonder.