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The city is famous for them, but even if you were dropped onto the streets of Bologna without having ever heard the word “portico” you would see right away: there’s something special here.

These beautiful covered sidewalks go on forever!

In fact, there’s one (leading to the sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, up in the hills) that goes on for more than two miles—surely the longest covered walkway in the world. (Comment, please, if you know for certain, or know better.)

The array of porticoes that we enjoy today came about over the centuries, so as you might expect they range from quite mundane (and likely modern) . . .

to magnificent (and likely old).

Well, why are there so many porticoes (about thirty miles of them) in Bologna? What were the origins? What’s it like walking for miles, protected from summer heat and wet winter?

Here’s a little movie, with a sublime sound track that is native to Bologna as well.

I hope you’ll enjoy your stroll.