September

One of the most unusual and unanticipated architectural feature that really left an impression on me were the grand, larger than life, corridors that flanked the structures of Bologna. I could stare, transfixed, all day into the symmetrical and repeating patterns of each of these airy and open passages.

The porticoes of Bologna form one of the city’s most iconic features - a continuous network of sheltered walkways stretching for kilometers and weaving together streets, plazas, and hillsides. They began to take shape in the Middle Ages, when the city’s growing student population required more living space; upper floors of houses gradually extended outward over the streets, and wooden supports evolved into the elegant arcades we see today. 

Over centuries, these improvised extensions were refined into a unified architectural language of brick, stone, and sweeping arches - part shelter, part sculpture, and wholly a testament to Bologna’s inventive spirit. Walking beneath them felt almost ceremonial: the light changes as it filters through rhythmic columns, footsteps echo softly, and every turn reveals a blend of grandeur and warmth. 

The porticoes transform a simple stroll into a deeply atmospheric experience. Buskers entertaining the crowds, merchants selling souvenirs, locals running their errands, tourists in and out of luxury boutiques, friends chattering over gelatos, it was quite a cacophony of worlds under the never-ending arched ceilings.