Th e porticoesof BolognaTh e porticoes, nominated as Unesco “world heritage site”, make the city of Bologna unique in the world. Lights and shadows, deep architectural perspectives, diff erent columns and capitals create fascinating and extraordinary urban images.

PiazzaMaggiore

PiazzaS. Stefano

via San Vitale via Rizzoli

Strada Maggiore

Strada Maggiore

via Santo Stefano

via Santo Stefano

via Santo Stefano

via San Vitale

via

dell’

Uni

one

via

F. S

elm

iv.

S. A

pollo

nia

via

S.Le

onar

do

via Ugo Bassivia Ugo Bassi

via

G. M

arco

ni

via

G. M

arco

ni

via

dell’

Indi

pend

enza

via

dell’

Indi

pend

enza

Piazzadell’8

Agosto

Parco dellaMontagnola

Piazzadei Martiri1943-1945

Piazza XXSettembre

viale P. Pietra

mellara

viale A. Silv

ani

viale G. Vicini

viale C. Pepoli

StazioneCentrale

Autostazione

via

G. M

atte

otti

via Milazzo

via Milazzo

via

Galli

era

via

Galli

era

via

San

Carl

o

via

Pole

se

via

Aves

ella

via Irnerio

via dei Mille

via IrnerioPortaSan

Donato

PortaMascarella

via Zamboni

via Zamboni

via Castiglione

via Castiglione

via Castiglione

via Castiglione

PiazzaRe Enzo

PiazzaMinghetti

PiazzaGalvani

PiazzaS. Domenico

Piazzadel Baraccano

PiazzaS. Giovanni

in Monte

Piazza deiTribunali

PortaCastiglione

PiazzettaMorandi

PortaMaggiore

Porta SanMamolo

PiazzaGalileo

Piazza de’ Celestini

Piazza de’CalderiniPiazza

Cavour

PiazzaRoosevelt

PiazzaS. Francesco

PortaS. Isaia

PortaS. Felice

Piazza dellaResistenza

PortaLame

Piaz

zaM

. Azz

arit

a

via

Graz

iano

v. d

el R

ondo

ne

via

Batt

iste

lli

via N. Nannetti

via U. Lenzi

via

Erco

lani

Piaz

zaM

alpi

ghi

via Clavature

V. Caprarie

Piazzadel

Nettuno

Piazzadella

Mercanzia

PiazzaS. Martino

piazzettaMarco Biagi

via Orefi ci

Via dei Musei

via

de’

Giu

dei

via

del-

l’Arc

higi

nnas

io

via de’

Pepoli

Cort

e Iso

lanivia

D

rapp

erie

via Altabella

via

Albi

roli

via Marsala

via Marsala

v. delle Moline

v. M

enta

na

largoRespighi

via Augusto Righi

via Bertiera

via Monte Grappa

via Manzoni

via Goitov. de’ Monari

via Riva di Reno

via Riva di Reno

via Riva di Reno

via de’Falegnami

via

Galli

era

via S. Giorgio

via

Naz

ario

Sau

ro

via

G.B.

Mor

gagn

i

via

S. G

erva

sio

LargoCaduti del

Lavoro

via Parigi

via

G. O

berd

anvi

a G.

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rdan

via

dell’

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rno

via

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atti

sti

via

de’ M

arch

i

via

Piet

rala

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etra

lata

via

Para

diso

via della Grada

via M. Calari

via R. Audinot

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men

to

via

F. C

aval

lott

i

via O. Belluzzi via

Valle

scur

a

via

G.C.

Gua

land

i

via

F. P

etra

rca

via A. Guidotti

via A. Guidotti

via

S. R

occo

via

S. C

roce

via

A. T

esto

nivi

a de

’ Gom

brut

i

via Porta Nova

via del Pratello

via del Pratello

via San Felice

via San Felice

via L. Calori

via Malvasia

via

dello

Sca

lo

via A. Saffi

via A. Costa

via Sabotino

via Pier de’ Crescenzi

via C. Casarini

via Azzo Gardino

via Cairoli

via del Porto

via del Porto

via Don Minzoni

via Boldrini

via Antonio Gra

msci

via Boldrini

via I. Barozzi

via A. Muggia

via

Amen

dola

via

F.lli

Ros

selli

via

F.lli

Ros

selli

via G. Brugnoli

via delle Lame

via delle Lame

via delle Lame

via F. Zanardi

via Bovi Campeggi

via L. Cipriani

v. d

e’ F

usar

i

v. V

al d

’Apo

sa

via

d’Az

eglio

v. S. Margherita

v. IV Novembrev.

Vol

to S

anto

via

d’Az

eglio

via

d’Az

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via

Tagl

iapi

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via de’ Carbonesi

via Barberia

via

del F

ossa

to

via

Senz

anom

e

via

del R

icci

o

via Collegio

di Spagna

via

Nos

adel

la

via

Nos

adel

la

via

Fras

sina

go

via

S. C

ater

ina

via Ca’ Selvatica

via S. Isaiavia S. Isaia

via Saragozza

via Saragozza

via

S. M

amol

o

viale A. Aldini

viale A. Aldini

viale E. Panzacchiviale G. Gozzadini

via G.Mazzini

viaA. Murri

via G. Massarenti

via Saragozza via Urbana via Marsili

CorteGalluzzi

v. delle Tovaglie

via Solferino

via Mirasole

via

Save

nellavi

a Pa

glie

tta

Via Castelfi dardo

Via Capramozza

Via

Mal

pert

uso

via Vascelli

Via

S. D

omen

ico

via

Cart

oler

iavi

a Ca

stel

lata

via

degl

i Ang

eli

via

G. P

asco

li

via

de’ C

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via

de’ B

uttie

ri

via

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azzavi

a Re

mor

sella

via

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v. d

ei B

ersa

glie

ri

via

Guer

razz

i

via

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onuo

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zaAl

drov

andi

PortaSan Vitale

PiazzaG. Verdi

via Belle Arti

via

Cent

otre

cent

o

via

del B

orgo

di S

. Pie

tro

via

del B

orgo

di S

. Pie

tro

via

Capo

di L

ucca

via

Capo

di L

ucca

via

Ales

sand

rini

via

del P

allo

ne

v. A

. Ber

tolo

ni

v. F

ilipp

o Re

via

Mas

care

lla

via

Mas

care

lla

vico

lo B

olog

nett

i

via

Bega

tto

via

Bega

tto

via A

. Zan

olin

i

via F. Malaguti

via C. Ranza

ni

via

G. R

eni

via Santa

via G. Petroni

largo Trombetti

via Belmeloro

via S. Giacomo

via

Broc

cain

doss

o

via

Torl

eone

vico

lo P

oste

rla

via Dante

PortaS. Stefano

PiazzaCarducci

via

San

Giul

iano

via

Rial

to

via Orfeo

via Arienti

via dell’Oro

via Del Cestello

via de’ Chiari

via San Petronio Vecchio

viale XII Giugno

via

Gari

bald

i

via

del C

ane

via Farini

via Farini

via de’ Poeti

viale Q. Filopanti

viale C. Berti Pichat

viale A. Masini

viale P. Pietramellara

via S. Donato

via

Stal

ingr

ado

viale G. B. Ercolani

PortaSaragozza

via

Piel

la

viale G. Carducci

Giardini Margherita

7

8. Th e commercial portico of Via dell’Indipendenza

9. Th e porticoes of Via Santa Cristina, a residential working class area

10. Th e portico of San Luca

With the opening of Via dell’ Indipendenza (1888), a new type of portico is introduced, mainly for commercial purposes. Th e new buildings that were designed for this road that connects Piazza Maggiore to the new railway station and for via Rizzoli and Ugo Bassi defi ne modern spaces, and are diff erent from the structures of more traditional porches, considered dangerous or unhealthy. Porches get higher and wider and their design is infl uenced by Neo-Renaissance or Neo-Gothic models, with fl oral decorations, as is the case with the portico of the Majani palace by Augusto Sezanne, at no. 4.

In some areas of the city that expanded during the 14th century there are still long porticoes, well preserved and built according to monastic allotment plans. Th ey are also to be found in the following streets: Mirasole, Tovaglie and Solferino, San Leonardo, Centotrecento and Santa Caterina. In particular Via Santa Caterina is characterized by a portico architecture that is extremely simple, with no arches and with architraves, a functional solution for the production and artisan activities that were carried out there.

Outside Porta Saragozza, the portico of San Luca stretches along via Saragozza and via San Luca and was built between the 17th and the 18th century as a covered devotional route to the sanctuary of the Holy Virgin of San Luca, starting from the initial loggia (the so-called “Bonaccorsi arch”) that is placed on the borderline of the walled-up town. Th e portico, which is 3,796 metres long and is divided into 15 pilgrimage stations, was built in the second half of the 17th century (from 1674) and designed by Gian Giacomo Monti. It consists of two diff erent parts: a fl at part (1.520 m) and a hilly one (2.776 m, that was completed only in the early 18th century under the supervision of Giovanni Antonio Conti). Th e two parts are connected by the Meloncello arch, built by Carlo Francesco Dotti in 1732.

Th e

port

ico

of S

an L

uca

originally had a loggia twice as long as the current one) and of the opposite Boncompagni houses, a typical example of residential architecture of Bologna from the 13th century, adapted to the culture of the end of the 19th century.

Via S. Caterina

Casa Grassi

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Texts: Francesco Ceccarelli - University of Bologna

www.bolognawelcome.it

touristoffi ce@comune.bologna.it

Piazza Maggiore 1/eAeroporto G. Marconi, via Triumvirato 84

Tourist informationtel. +39 051 239660 - +39 051 6472201

1. The porticoes of Piazza Maggiore and the seat of the old University

2. The porticoes of Piazza Santo Stefano

This magnificent square, which started being built in the 13th century, is characterized by porched buildings on three sides. The gothic arches on cross-shaped pillars of Palatium Bladi on the western side were brought back to light by restoration works in 1885-1887. The impressive portico of the Bentivoglio family’s Palazzo del Podestà on the northern side was built at the end of the 15th century (from 1485) on the previous Palatium Vetus. The portico of the Banchi, designed by Jacopo Barozzi (Il Vignola) and built from 1565, stands out on the eastern side. Here, in the loggia, the early 15th century groin vaults can still be clearly seen. The whole sequence of porticoes which starts from Piazza Maggiore, on the side of Basilica di San Petronio, and ends in Piazza Galvani is also known as Pavaglione (a dialect word for the pavilion of the silk cocoon market). The portico of the Banchi is followed by that of the Hospital of Death, an old residential care centre from the late Middle Ages which is now the seat of Museo Civico; next to this is the portico of Archiginnasio, the seat of the university during the Counter-reformation years. This elegant portico, with its 30 arches that extend for 139 metres, was built by Antonio Terribilia in 1563 and was the partial remake of the previous 15th century loggia of the Schools of San Petronio; its 15th century vaults are still visible.

An enchanting sequence of porticoes from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance runs along the two sides of Via Santo Stefano, in the square that dates back to the Middle Ages and is dominated by the religious complex of the same name. On the western side the portico of Palazzo Bolognini Amorini (no. 9-11) is followed at no. 13 by Casa Bianchi, easily recognizable

Porticoes of Piazza Santo Stefano

Santa Maria dei Servi

San Giacomo Maggiore. Photo: Adriana Verolla

3. The portico of the Baraccano ConservatoryOne of the most peculiar Renaissance porticoes in Bologna is that of the Conservatory of Putte del Baraccano: a wide loggia, built during the reign of the Bentivoglio family, consists of majestic stone columns whose shaft is decorated with an elegant moulded disc.

4. The porticoes of Strada Maggiore

6. The portico of San Giacomo Maggiore and Via Zamboni

5. The “Carrobbio” area of Porta Ravegnana

On Strada Maggiore, which runs along the route of the Via Emilia inside the city walls, there are some of the most characteristic examples of monumental porticoes of the whole town. The interesting wide portico that stretches along the northern side of Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi was built from the second half of the 14th century and maybe designed by Antonio di Vincenzo. It has large groin vaults placed on thin marble columns, with a characteristic ring-shaped connection in the central part of the shaft. On the southern side of the street, at no. 19, the high wooden portico (higher than 9 metres) of Casa Isolani, restored in 1877, is one of the best preserved examples of a portico from the late Middle Ages. Another peculiar portico is that in front of the entrance of the baroque Church of San Bartolomeo, near the two towers. It is located in a loggia of the unfinished Palazzo Guastavillani (16th century). Its magnificent pillars have refined (but now severely damaged) Renaissance sandstone decorations.

The porched buildings in via Zamboni used to be noble residences or religious structures and today they house university departments and other public institutions. Past the small San Donato square the neoclassical Palazzo Malvasia has elegant porches dating back to different ages. Then there are the late Renaissance porches of Palazzo Magnani, planned by Domenico Tibaldi, and the Tuscanic arches of the portico of Palazzo Malvezzi. On the opposite side of the street, past the majestic 16th century portico of Palazzo Malvezzi de Medici, the spans of the Renaissance portico of the church of San Giacomo Maggiore extend one after another. The refined portico of San Giacomo was meant to be a ceremonial path, leading to the Domus Magna of Giovanni II Bentivoglio (which was where the Teatro Comunale now is and was destroyed in 1507); it was built between 1477 and 1479 by expert stone specialists, such as Tommaso di Filippo da Varignana.

Only a few porched buildings, massively restored or largely rebuilt, of the medieval Foro dei Mercanti near Porta Ravegnana is left. The irregular space is dominated by Loggia della Mercanzia (1384), a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture, with a majestic portico with large groin vaults supported by cluster columns. On the wider part of the street the wooden porticoes of the Seracchioli houses, a stylistic reinvention of the past century (1928), give a Neo-Gothic style to the whole area.

by the high portico on sandstone columns with a ribbed shaft. Then there is a long sequence of buildings which nowadays are known as “Case Tacconi”, with the striking triumphal arch-shaped facade of the late 15th century, at number 15, built according to models from Ferrara, followed by the front part of the houses that once belonged to the Beccadelli family, with peculiar spiral-shaped brick columns. On the eastern side of the square the beautiful Renaissance portico of palazzo Isolani, at no. 18, was built in the second half of the 15th century by Pagno di Lapo Portigiani, from Florence.

The stretch of via Marsala between via Oberdan and via Piella is characterized by the wooden porticoes of Casa Grassi (which

7. The wooden porticoes of Via Marsala