How long is San Luca portico?

3.5 km long
The Portico of San Luca is one of the longest arcade in the world. It is 3.5 km long and has 666 arcades. It connects the Porta Saragozza with the San Luca Sanctuary, on Colle della Guardia. The Sanctuary was meant to house a miraculous icon of the virgin.

How do I get to Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca?

By bus: You need to take bus 20 from the city center to Villa Spada, and then bus 58 up to the Basilica. You can check the buses timetable here (in Italian). By car: You can go up via di San Luca for direct access, or, for a longer route that lets you see part of the hills of San Luca, take via di Casaglia.

Why does the longest portico have 666 arches?

There are 666 arches in the portico – the number that symbolizes the devil according to the Apocalypse of Sain John. However, Mary guarantees her protection. She is the true roof, defending the pilgrims from every attack of the Evil.

How many porticoes are in Bologna?

No other city in the world has as many porticoes as Bologna: all together, they cover more than 38 kilometres (24 mi) only in the historic center, but can reach up to 53 kilometres (33 mi) if those outside the medieval city walls are also considered….Porticoes of Bologna.

How many arches does Bologna have?

664 arches
From the first arch of porta Saragozza (Bonaccorsi), you arrive halfway to the Arco del Meloncello and then go up to Monte della Guardia. The portico is made up of 664 arches and measures almost 4 km.

Why does Bologna have so many porticos?

Either because it was seen as an encroachment onto public land, or to create wider spaces in the streets. In Bologna however the portico was seen to provide a useful service for the community, protecting citizens from both hot and wet weather.

What are the arches in Bologna called?

Originally the arches held icons or chapels erected by the patron family….Madonna di San Luca, Bologna.

What is a portico in Italy?

A portico (from Italian) is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in Ancient Greece and has influenced many cultures, including most Western cultures.

What is Bologna famous for?

Bologna is famed as a foodie’s paradise. It’s the capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region where some of Italy’s well-known pasta dishes, meats, cheeses and wines come from.

What is the purpose of a portico?

Portico, colonnaded porch or entrance to a structure, or a covered walkway supported by regularly spaced columns. Porticoes formed the entrances to ancient Greek temples.

Where is the portico of San Luca in Bologna?

Beginning at Porta Saragozza, the Portico di San Luca connects the city to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca on top of the Colle della Guardia hill (289 meters above sea level). The portico is an uninterrupted covered walkway that, in 3.8 km (3,796m to be precise), takes you from the plain to the hills, with a 215 meters elevation gain.

When was the portico of the San Luca built?

Construction of the portico began in 1674, but its backstory goes as far back as 1192, when a young woman from nearby Casalecchio, Angelica de Caicle, founded an hermitage on top of the Colle della Guardia, where the Basilica now stands.

Where is the sanctuary of San Luca in Bologna?

By ‘San Luca’ we mean the sanctuary on top of the hill (Basilica di San Luca), but also the covered walkway that leads to it ( Portico di San Luca ).

When was the Madonna di San Luca built?

While a road now leads up to the sanctuary, it is also possible to reach it along a 3.8 km monumental roofed arcade ( Portico di San Luca) consisting of 666 arches, which was built in 1674-1793. It was meant to protect the icon as it was paraded up the hill.