Chas, Piazza San Michele at Str. Maggiore, Bologna, Italy

Bologna’s porticos were built because of the city’s early growth when eager students rushed to the world’s first university. Bologna simply needed more room. Porticos created more liveable space higher above ground level, with shops and shop owners underneath them, and arches of at least seven feet tall meant men riding their horses could easily pass through. Even artists and craftsmen could work outside, sheltered from the elements.

The historical city of Bologna has the most porticos in the world with nearly 40 kilometres of long walkways and tall arches you can stroll through. The covered walkways give Bologna its unique character dating back to the 1200s. Since then, there have been medieval, gothic, and renaissance influences in their design.  Each one is very different, from its structure to its shadows, and the different perspective they offer.