Porticoes of Bologna (UNESCO): 12 best + map & walking route [2025]
- Category: Visit
The porticoes of Bologna (aka “porticos”, in Italian portici) are a UNESCO World Heritage site: 62 km of covered walkways that mix architecture, daily life and shelter from sun and rain.
Here you’ll find the 12 best porticoes, a map, and a self-guided walking route to see them all.
The origins of Bologna’s porticoes date back to the 11th century, during a time when the establishment of the University of Bologna brought an influx of students and scholars to the city.
To accommodate this growing population, buildings were expanded with overhanging structures, creating the first porticoes. These extensions protected from the elements and expanded public spaces without occupyin