arcades in via Zamboni, hustle and bustle
If the mythical bubba of 'Forrest Gump' would have been from Bologna, instead of listing the endless recipes that can be made with shrimp, he would have made the Vietnam war more enjoyable by talking about the arcade class what this city has. Monumental arcades, practical, high, low, Renaissance, modernist, red stone, wood, marble, polychrome, bare, graffiti... and so on until eternal. And it is that the Bolognese have become accustomed to making life in these corridors open to the street and yes, they recognize it, they are more comfortable there than at home.
Here they are protected from mediterranean sun , from the inclemencies of winter and have a social life at the door of the bars. It is used as an extension of the stores, which bring out their gender to the sight and smell of the pedestrians. A duck (for example, a nice animal) could travel from end to end of the city without getting soaked up to the eyebrows with the February rains or without suffering a sunstroke in August.
But of course, it's not that Bologna suffer from the heat phoenix nor the rains glasgow so this architectural element does not seem essential for human life. The real reason for its omnipresence is a law that dates back to 1288. The rule was forceful: from then on, all buildings had to have a porch and, to those that were already built, they would have to add it. Its objective was to put a little order in the urbanization of a city that was growing by leaps and bounds due to its college . In fact, this great academy served as an example of an intermediate space between the public and the private. Since then, everything that has been built in the center of this city has this common element. Only the churches and some public buildings have been able to rise up flouting the law. That's why, 'endure' it can be an original Art History class.
Panoramic view of the beautiful Piazza Magiore
The essentials Of course, it is not a question of running an indoor marathon, although it could. Not even dressing up as a Contador and crossing out on a map the itinerary that has been pedaled since many of the arcades go unnoticed. The constant walk under the porches often leads the visitor to the routine, making him forget that not every day the walks are going up ramps, resting in the openings or stopping at a certain bar to have an aperitif at 7 in the afternoon. Here are the obligatory stops to mark a route enjoying the roofed path.
Casa Isolina on the Strada Maggiore. This is one of the relics of the city. Here is one of the few examples of wooden arcades. But not only is it striking because of its age, but also because of its spectacular height of almost 7 meters which makes it unique in its kind, turning it into a robust and solemn cathedral. Of course, do not get mad at me, the thing has a trick since it uses modern pillars to stay upright.
Piazza Magiore. Gentlemen, we are facing one of the most beautiful squares in all of Italy. And, of course, our beloved porches play a fundamental role in its beauty. Bypassing the Basilica of San Petronio , very curious because its façade is still bare due to the bombings of the last century, all the buildings are porticoed. It is worth underlining the Palazzo d'Accursio , with its gothic touch, and the Palace of the Bianchi , which breaks with the red monochrome to give the square a more Renaissance and stately vibe. Under its arcade there is a time machine that takes you to the Bologna of cafes, craft shops and Sunday walks. Lastly, the Palace of the Podesta symbolizes the obsession with this architectural resource since it is still an annex (obviously with arcades) to the old castle, the Palazzo Re Enzo.
The portico of San Luca. We are before the mother of all gantries, before the world record, before a milestone among its peers. Nothing less than 3,796 meters long that unites the sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca , in the Colle della Guardia, with the center. When it was built at the end of the 17th century, its function was to facilitate the pilgrimage to the image most revered by the Bolognese. This ambitious corridor is a display of engineering of the time that overcomes a drop of 215 meters with **666 arches (what a number) **, stairs, ramps and arches that allow us to see the best view of the city.
The towers of Bologna, the tall Asinelli and the leaning Garisenda
The narrowest and the tallest. As an anecdote, it is worth approaching the street Saragozza to see the narrowest arcade, barely 95 centimeters , just enough to pass in single file and not be able to stop to chat with an acquaintance. The Pau Gasol of the porticoes is that of the Palazzo Arcivescoville , which rises up to 10 meters from the ground, forming a second sky.
University. The arcades of Palazzo Poggi they welcome the visitor to one of the most important institutions of the city. This impressive complex of united palaces maintains the imposed aesthetic uniformity, although the most entertaining thing is to get caught up in the frenetic university routine and sneak into the most emblematic classrooms.
Rizzoli-Hugo Bassi axis. These two streets form one of the most important axes of the city, the one that crosses the center from East to West. Walking it under its arcades serves to get an idea of what the city can hold for you. First, because they are the most careful , with marble floors and small polychrome vaults. Secondly, because it houses the most luxurious stores, which take care of their windows to maintain a charming classic halo. And, finally, because under its shelter you can admire other treasures of the city, such as the disturbing pair of towers. The Asinelli it impresses with its height, since lifting 100 meters in the 12th century is no small feat. The Garisenda it shines for being exaggeratedly inclined, the result of the seismic activity that is collected in the Padana plain.
Via del Pratello. Touch the moment of the reward. When the sun goes down, the people of Bolognese congregate on the Vía del Pratello to fully enjoy their mythical aperitif. Chairs and tables are crowded in the arcades where parishioners and visitors toast with spritz and they put on their boots with the little ones deli of the place. Here it doesn't matter that the porches lack visual appeal, their true value is to become a space for conversation, tasting and origin of international friendships fruit of the wonderful concept of the Erasmus scholarship. Hello!!