The arcades of Bologna

What would be Bologna without its arcades? This city is covered by arcades for almost 40 kilometres. The style of these can be very different, for example, you can see the elegant arcades of the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi or the painted arcades of Piazza Malpinghi. The arcades aren’t only an architectural element but they represent the essence of this city. In the summertime they are a perfect refuge from the sun and in the cold seasons a perfect refuge from the rain. This covered ways allow people to reach all the points of the centre of city. The origin of these arcades is dated back to the Middle Age when, in a moment of great expansion of the city, Bologna became favourite destination for men of letters and for people coming from the countryside. This population growth created the necessity of exploiting the open space of the city. In the past these arcades were made of wood, nowadays they are all made of stone, except for one, the arcade of Casa Isolani in Strada Maggiore, which is still made of wood. If you have a walk under the arcades you’ll remain charmed by the light and shadow games that change according to the seasons.