Scenic & Viewpoints
Walk the porticoes to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
Bologna · Emilia-Romagna
QUICK INFORMATION
- CATEGORY
- Scenic & Viewpoints
- COUNTRY
- Italy
- REGION
- Bologna · Emilia-Romagna
- DURATION
- Two to three hours for the round trip
- DIFFICULTY
- Moderate — a steady uphill climb, but covered and paved throughout.
- BEST TIME
- Spring and autumn; the portico is sheltered, so the walk is fine year-round.
ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE
The portico of San Luca is the longest in the world — nearly four kilometres of covered arcades, 666 arches, climbing from the city gate of Porta Saragozza up the hill to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. The portico was built between 1674 and 1793 to shelter the pilgrims who came to venerate the icon of the Virgin in the sanctuary, and it is the most distinctive walk in Bologna, a covered ascent through the city and the woods to the domed basilica on the hill. The view from the sanctuary takes in the whole city, the plain and the Apennines, and the walk back down through the arches is the most atmospheric way to return.
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
What you’ll experience
THE EXPERIENCE IN DETAIL
What it’s really like
HIGHLIGHTS
Moments worth savouring
The 666 arches — the nearly four kilometres of covered arcades, the longest portico in the world.
The Sanctuary of San Luca — the domed 18th-century basilica on the hill, holding the icon of the Virgin.
The view — the panorama over Bologna, the plain and the Apennines from the basilica terrace.
The Porta Saragozza — the monumental city gate where the portico begins.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Good to know before you go
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before you go
MAP & LOCATION
Walk the porticoes to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
Walk the porticoes to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
44.4906, 11.2139
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MORE EXPERIENCES
More to do in Bologna
FOOD & DRINK
Where to eat nearby
Trattoria di Via Serra — a beloved trattoria for handmade pasta and Bolognese classics, book ahead
Osteria Bottega — a wine bar and trattoria for the best tortellini in brodo in the city
Trattoria Anna — a no-frills trattoria in the market quarter for tagliatelle al ragù and boiled meats
Salumeria Simoni — a salumeria in the Quadrilatero for a mortadella sandwich and a glass of Lambrusco
Drogheria della Rosa — a romantic trattoria in a vintage grocery for refined Emilian cooking
HOTELS & STAYS
Where to stay nearby
Grand Hotel Majestic gia Baglioni — a grand hotel in a 16th-century palace near the station, with a rooftop
Hotel Porta San Mamolo — a charming garden hotel just inside the old walls, a quiet base
Art Hotel Commercianti — a boutique hotel near the Piazza Maggiore, in a medieval building
Hotel Al Cappello Rosso — a historic hotel near the Piazza Maggiore, in business since 1375
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
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INTERESTS
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PART OF
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