Arco del Meloncello, Rococo arch at Via Saragozza, Bologna, Italy.
The Arco del Meloncello is a Rococo arch that crosses over Via Saragozza as part of the Portico di San Luca. The structure forms a pedestrian passage above the street, with the arch supporting a continuous arcade that extends across the city.
Architect Carlo Francesco Dotti designed the arch after winning a competition in the early 18th century, with construction completed between 1721 and 1732. In the early 1900s, the structure was lifted several meters to allow trains to pass underneath.
The arch forms part of a covered walkway system that has guided pilgrims from the cathedral to the hilltop sanctuary for centuries. Visitors today walk beneath the same sheltered passage that worshippers have used as a spiritual path for generations.
You can walk directly beneath the arch and observe the surrounding arcade details up close. The location is easily reached on foot and forms part of a longer walking route along the historical covered passages.
The arch was lifted several meters in the early 1900s to allow trains to pass underneath, making it a rare example of a historic structure modified for modern transport. This unusual alteration shows how the building adapted to the city's rapid industrial development.
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