We do a lot of wandering when we travel, including “random walks” in the cities we visit. On this day we simply headed out, picked a direction, and walked until it fell like time to turn around and head back. We stayed in central Bologna, the old part of the city, and an area without much vehicle traffic. On much of the walk we followed these porticos, which travel under extensions of the buildings.

The porticos are a characteristic feature of Bologna, and I understand that they have a very long history. Centuries ago, as the population of the city increased, residents extended the upper floors of buildings over the streets. Eventually the structures needed the support of the columns. Today, what began as a way to produce more living space makes the street more livable, too, since the porticos provide shelter from the weather, in particular the heat of Italian summer.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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