Galliera

Important senatorial palaces and their porticoes make up part of this component along Via Galliera, once the main street of the Roman city of Bononia, Via Manzoni and the San Colombano complex, which dates from the 7th century and is presently part of the Genus Bononiae Museum.

The 15th and 16th century porticoes show architectural styles that are present only in this area of the city, such as the particular use of the classic orders of the Palazzo dal Monte or the use of a torus to reinforce the entasis of the columns at the Palazzo Bonasoni.

These characteristics reveal the desire of the Bolognese senatorial families to make the portico a strong expressive element of the urban scenario and to create a particular type of residential environment for the oligarchy that governed the city during the old regime. In this scenario, the porticoes of the residential palaces fostered different forms of urban social exchange and had the purpose of expressing family prestige and magnificence over time.

Santa Caterina e Saragozza

Santo Stefano e Mercanzia

Galliera

Baraccano

Pavaglione, Banchi e Piazza Maggiore

San Luca

Università e Accademia

Certosa

Cavour, Farini e Minghetti

Strada Maggiore

“Treno della Barca”

MAMbo

Overview of porticoes
Area of interest of portico

Galliera

Point of interest

Casa Calzolari

The first documentary evidence of the building ascribes it to the Preti family after whom the alley between the building and the church of Santa...

Casa Castelli

The façade of the building that marks the end of the long Via Galliera dates back to the 15th century, despite its Gothic appearance highlighted...

Palazzo Fava

Palazzo Fava, currently home to the Genus Bononiae exhibition facility, a private and multi-venue museum complex, stands on a 15th century portico with some late-Gothic...

Palazzo Ghisilardi

One of the most valuable Renaissance porticoes left in the city, it is in an elevated position in relation to the road plan and features...

Casa Conoscenti

This building has extremely ancient roots and its floorplan is influenced by illustrious pre-existing constructions, i.e. the Imperial Fortress that was destroyed by the local...

Palazzo Dal Monte

This is one of the few cases in which the portico follows the canons of classical architecture, i.e. quadrangular pillars supporting the portico arch in...

Palazzo Torfanini

The portico dating back to 1544 is of a very unusual length for a Palazzo, and features an extensive sample of capitals with a wide...

dettaglio della facciata sull'ingresso principale

Palazzo Aldrovandi

One of the very few buildings without a portico in Via Galliera, yet it is one of the most significant examples of the "senator" palace...

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

This important Basilica of ancient origin is nestled within its narthex in the porticoed curtain wall on the Galliera road. The 6th century beginnings and...

Palazzo Felicini

Erected in 1497 by Bartolomeo Felicini, it is one of the most significant examples of Renaissance art in Bologna. The portico is characterised by round...

Palazzo Bonasoni

For some time the porticoed façade was attributed to Antonio Morandi, known as the Terribilia, who was active in the mid-16th century. However, considering the...

Vista di scorcio della facciata dell'edificio

Palazzo Merendoni

Built on a pre-existing structure, the current palace was completed around 1774 by the architect Raimondo Compagnini. The portico features columns with Tuscan pilasters and...

Complex of San Colombano

The origins of the complex have been traced back to Roman or later ancient times. In the 7th century, Bishop Peter I ordered the building...