In Bologna, some streets have sidewalks with a special detail. Starting in the 12th century, the city began increasing the upper stories of buildings and creating covered walkways – porticoes – at the street level. Over 38 miles of porticoes are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Porticoes of Bologna – UNESCO World Heritage Centre
What started as a useful way to increase available space, has become an amazing way to transverse the city center. Walking along protected from the sun or the rain, the rhythm of the columns and arches carries you along your way. This in between space – out but in; street but not – transforms the sidewalk into a place in its own right. Not just part of the street, not just part of the building, but a flexible space in between that can be used in a variety of ways.
It will be interesting to see if there are other ways that places achieve the same sense of sidewalk as a place in itself besides these amazing porticoes.
