Bologna: Let’s Take a Passeggiata
Bologna, city often overlooked by tourists, is one of Italy’s hidden treasures. Off the beaten path of tours and tour companies, Bologna offers visitors a wonderful experience in old world Italy.
The city of Bologna is famous for its many porticos, or over hangings. The city is said to have over forty kilometers of porticos running throughout its many avenues and streets. Made of stone and wood, each portico is unique and beautiful.
The porticos of Bologna did not originate as objects of beauty, but instead came into being due the growing population of the city during the Middle Ages. The earliest porticos were made of wood and were built to increase the size of Bolognese dwellings. During the Middle Ages it was dangerous to leave the city walls and, as more people stayed inside the city, more room was needed for living space. The city was already crowded and growth was forced upward. Second floors were added to existing homes and the floors of the second levels became the city’s now famous porticos.
As stated, the first porticos in Bologna were made of wood, but builders soon switched to stone because of its permanence. Examples of both kinds of porticos can be found in Bologna today. The older quarters of the city, such as the Via Clavature, contain some of the oldest.
Visitors will enjoy joining locals on passeggiata. The passeggiata is an evening stroll along the sidewalks under Bologna’s porticos. This ancient tradition is alive and well in the city and allows tourists to meet and spend time with the Bolognese people.
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