Many travelers make a trip to Bologna Italy for some of the best food in all of Europe. However, you should know there’s plenty more to see in this amazing city! When you’re not busy tasting authentic Italian cuisine, it’s time to take the Bologna Portico walk to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. The long stroll through the 3.8 km archway is more than just another piece of history in Bologna. As you’ll see in this article, the Portico Di San Luca is actually the longest form of portico architecture in the world!
History of Portico di San Luca Bologna
The Portico di San Luca is not only the largest display of Portico architecture ever, but also the longest covered walkway in Europe! Built from 1674 to 1793, this beautiful archway connects the city to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca and its green hilltops.
Unsurprisingly, the history of Bologna and the famous Portico di San Luca begins and ends with the church above. The story goes all the way back to 1192, when a woman from a nearby town (Angelica de Caicle) created a small religious community on top of the mountain.
The community grew over time and is said to have guarded an image of the “Virgin with Child” painted by Luke the Evangelist himself. The pilgrimage started to be made regularly from town, and was so important that they built a walkway in the mid-17th century.
The craziest part of it all is that the town did not have enough money to build the Bologna Portico. Citizens rich and poor scraped money together, and paid for the hillside section of the monument to be built themselves.
Getting to the San Luca Bologna Walk
From the city center, it’s a 30-minute walk to the start of the Portico Di San Luca. There’s no shame in taking the tourist train there, as you’re already in for a good sized hike.
It runs from the center of Bologna and cost about 10 Euros round trip. If you do decide to walk, you will see the Bologna Portico architecture begin before you get to the actual start of the hike.
It runs along Via Saragozza, a street with many cafes, bars, and shops to enjoy. The start of the hike is marked by the Arco del Meloncello, which is an 18th century pedestrian walkway that hangs above the main road.
If you need a quick pick me up before the real incline starts there is a nice little cafe here. Bar Billi is the spot to get your espresso jolt, or even try an Aperol spritz drink. Check out this awesome Bologna food tour with Devour to taste more amazing local cuisine! You’ll also want to read our very own guide to the food in Bologna Italy.
Where To Stay In Bologna Italy
There are so many great places to stay before you take on the Bologna Portico walk! We’ve listed some of our favorite hotels around the city below.
You’ll also want to look into cheap flights around Europe with Skyscanner and use the search tool with Discover Cars if you’re planning out a road trip from Bologna.
Ultra Luxury (High End) – Grand Hotel Majestic gia’ Baglioni – Set in an 18th century palace with antique furnishings and modern luxuries. This five-star hotel is located in the heart of Bologna and is so incredible you’ll never want to leave.
Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Residenza Bianconcini – Stay in a historic Italian building just steps from all the action of the city. Unique rooms with wooden features, and a wonderful breakfast with homemade cakes!
Hostel Life (Budget) – Dopa Hostel – One of the most popular and stylish hostels in Bologna. You’ll have your pick of dormitories or private rooms, and located just 800 meters from the Bologna Towers.
Hike Up the Portico di San Luca
One thing we wanted to point out is that this hike is no joke! Maybe it was the fact that we were at the end of our Italian city tour, and already had many hours and miles walking under our belts.
It could have also been the pizza, pasta, and endless amounts of wine we had been consuming during our first week in Europe after 5 months in Southeast Asia.
Either way, the steady incline of the San Luca Bologna walk will be no easy task! The entire length of the Bologna Portico is 3,796 meters, with a good portion of that being completely uphill.
View From the Top of the Bologna Portico Walk
Due to the mesmerizing Bologna Portico design, you really have no idea when it’s going to end. Honestly, at times it almost feels like it could go on forever! On the climb you’ll be passing under 666 arches, winding and hypnotizing you until the very top.
I guess this is an easy one for Italians because we saw joggers running up and down the entire way. However, once you get there, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of both Bologna city and the beautiful countryside.
Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
The centerpiece of the Portico Di San Luca is the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca church, which is free to go inside. When we entered the basilica we were not expecting church to be in session, so we were a bit taken aback seeing it packed with people.
It was surreal listening to the traditional hymns and songs bounce off the painted walls. This was quite the end to our visit to Bologna and such a unique experience.
Be sure to check out our guides to other famous historical sites in Italy such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Duomo di Milano.
Have any questions on this article or want to share tips from your San Luca Bologna walk? Feel free to comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Pin For Later ↓
Thank you for this information.
We land in Milan and will take a train to Bologna. Don’t know if we will do this walk on the first day but will definitely do it the next day.
Any suggestions for restaurants in Bologna? We are staying in the old center of town at Hotel Roma.
Very excited!!!
We actually wrote a blog about where we ate in Bologna!
https://www.nothingfamiliar.com/bologna-food-tour/
Osteria dell’Orsa was our favorite but there are sooo many good places. Enjoy!