Arch of Meloncello, City gate in Bologna, Italy
The Arco del Meloncello is a stone city gate on Via Saragozza in western Bologna, marking the beginning of the covered portico that leads toward the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. It features a large arch topped by a loggia decorated with Ionic columns, a triangular pediment and a vase with a flame, connecting visually with the portico that continues up the hill.
The gate was built between 1721 and 1732 after a design by architect Carlo Francesco Dotti, who won a competition for the project in 1714. In the early 20th century it was raised by several meters, a work planned by Tito Azzolini to allow a train line to pass underneath.
The Arco del Meloncello marks the start of the long portico leading to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. The route is still used today by pilgrims, walkers and joggers, especially on weekends and during religious festivals.
The gate is freely accessible on foot at any time and sits along Via Saragozza, which is easy to follow from the old city center. From here, visitors can step directly onto the portico and walk all the way up to the hilltop sanctuary.
The arch was originally built to solve a practical problem: two roads crossed at a right angle, cutting off the uninterrupted path for pilgrims walking to the sanctuary. The raised structure you see today is not the original height, since it was lifted in the 20th century specifically to let a train pass below.
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