A New Walking Tour to Highlight the UNESCO Status
The 90-minute tours (€15) depart from Bologna’s Tourist Information Point in Piazza Maggiore every Saturday at 4pm through April 9. Furthermore, the tour will expand as COVID-19 restrictions ease throughout Italy. Visitors can also benefit from a tourism scheme offering two-for-one deals at participating hotels.
As the capital of Italy’s most significant food region, this UNESCO designation marks a pivotal shift in the narrative surrounding the city. While culinary tourism has dominated the conversation, it often obscures the rich tapestry of Bologna’s history. Tourists can now uncover stories about the city’s oldest university, its vibrant musical heritage, medieval architecture, and, notably, its iconic porticoes. The UNESCO designation represents a long-awaited recognition beyond the culinary delights of lasagna.
Why the Porticoes Were Initially Built
The porticoes, a remarkable series of arched arcades, emerged in the 12th and 13th centuries as a response to rapid population growth driven by students attending the University of Bologna. By constructing roofs over sidewalks, building owners could extend their properties without new construction. Although this practice initially spread to other Italian cities, Bologna uniquely embraced and maintained it.
“In 1288, a Municipal Statute mandated the maintenance of existing porticoes and required that new constructions include porticoes,” explains Bologna architect Federica Legnani, who coordinated the UNESCO bid. This crucial decision allowed porticoes to flourish, becoming a defining feature of Bologna’s urban landscape.
The History of Portico Architecture
Over the centuries, Bologna’s porticoes evolved through various architectural styles: medieval wooden structures, Gothic and Renaissance designs, and 19th-century adaptations featuring court architecture. These porticoes can reach heights of almost 10 meters, span widths as narrow as 95 centimeters, and stretch up to 4 kilometers in length, boasting some 664 arches leading to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. This walking tour aims to reveal details often missed by casual passersby.
Look Up, but Also Look Down
Go Beyond Bologna for Even More Variety
In the suburban district of Barca, the porticoed building known as “Il Treno” represents a striking example of post-war architecture. Designed by Bolognese architect Giuseppe Vaccaro, this 600-meter-long reinforced concrete structure serves as a workers’ residence, expanding Bologna’s suburban reach. Its curved design, reminiscent of a turning train, earned it the nickname.
Plans are underway to expand the tour to encompass the entire UNESCO World Heritage site, offering architecture enthusiasts even more to explore. Meanwhile, those venturing into suburban areas can still indulge in Bologna’s renowned culinary offerings, including ragù, tortellini, and mortadella.
