26 October 2015 - A fantastic walk through the world's longest portico: Via San Luca

Having researched top things to do in Bologna, one of the highly recommended day trips was to walk up to the Colle della Guardia (Hill of the Watchman) via the Portico di San Luca.  Having discussed with the kids, they decided it would be best to do our hill walk in the morning then come back for school.

Porta Lame - one of the gates to the old city

Old city walls

Pizza and meringues!

The Portico di San Luca is an arcade which snakes up the hill for 3.8 kms consisting of 666 arches.  The walk can be done in all weather!  It is the longest arcade in the world. It was built between 1674 and 1793 to protect a 10^th century Byzantine icon of Madonna and child.  This icon is supposed to have stopped torrential rain which threatened Bologna’s crops in 1433 and is carried annually on the 2^nd Sunday in May (Ascension Day) in a procession from Cathedral San Pietro in the old part of Bologna.  The church at the top of the hill, the Sanctuary of St Luke was built to house the icon which is now in the church.

 

This is where we started our climb!

The frescoes are worth looking up for!

One of the little side chapels

Fresco

 Walking up the ramps and steps was not a hard walk and all the arches are numbered so we could count down as we ascended!  Tim ran most of the way and we paced ourselves and loved the sun shining through the arches and the terracotta colour so typical of Italy. We did marvel at the people who built this amazing walk way and the hard physical labour they must have endured.  Some parts are in need of restoration but a structure like this needs continuous upkeep.  Some of the frescoes have been beautifully restored.

Some of the path is ramp and the rest is steps

As you can see:  lovely!

666 Arches!

This kind of place calls for a hand stand.

Time for gymnastics!

I love this one!!

Arches all round

The three of them.

Sanctuary of the Madonna of St Luke

The church is ornate with very lovely marble of differing colours and painted frescoes.  It was good that we were there earlier in the day as there were not many people there.  In the height of summer it may be different.  There did seem to be a number of people making the upward pilgrimage to the church on our way down.

We did wonder about the 666 arches and the significance of that number.  It is claimed that the architect built the church as the divine high above the serpent (devil).

 

St Luke, with the traditional oxen

St Mark with winged lion

The arches continue

An impressive building indeed!

Snack time

When the render is off, the art of bricklaying can be seen - wonderful!

The views over the hills and city were beautifully hazy and it was nice to be up in the fresh air.  We sat there for a snack and drink but didn’t stay for too long as we knew it was another 5 kms back to the station and school.
 

This picture I love - it says "Italy" to me!

Inside the Sanctuary of the  Madonna of St Luke - note the marble

In awe of this kind of ornateness and question such wealth but it is marvellous just to sit and ponder.

Inlaid wood

Looking from the altar

Within the gold frame is the icon for which this church and walkway were built!

Frescoes are always worth looking up for!

The cupola held up by 4 arches - such architecture!

The altar

Heading down we got a different perspective

Framed by the arch.

Love this photo of Karl!

Couldn't do this in summer with crowds!

What a perfect day!

Still quite high up

Heading back to Bologna

Now that is a cute car!!

The beginning of the 666 arches at Porta Saragozza

The frescoes continue

At the end of the arches, is the Porta Saragozza, the best preserved gate way to the city.  An elderly lady with a walking stick asked for assistance to cross the road and I wasn’t expecting she’d speak English!  She explained that she was Greek but had come to study at the University of Bologna, married an Italian and became a paediatrician here and has since lived in Bologna.  What a lovely encounter!  She gave me a few tips about walking back.  

Porta Saragozza - I love how everyone is so used to the ruins as they are part of every day life here!

Heading back to Piazza Maggiore

Snack stop on a bollard!

I like it!!

Could be a movie set!

Good ol' Neptune, Piazza Maggiore

We did make the train on time and the big kids went straight home to start school whilst Karl, Luke and I got off at Via Larga at the shops.  We are off to Florence tomorrow so lunches are prepared and packed for the journey.  There is something always exciting about big train stations and all those possibilities....will my travel bug ever retire or will I always be thinking of possibilities and future trips?