Portici Ercolani, Portico in Senigallia, Italy
Portici Ercolani is an arcade gallery running along the right bank of the Misa River, consisting of 126 arches built from Istrian stone. The covered walkway features shops and restaurants positioned throughout its entire length.
Pope Benedict XIV commissioned the portico in the mid-18th century to serve the annual Maddalena Fair, which drew merchants from across the Mediterranean. The arcades were built as a permanent structure to meet the region's growing trade needs.
The portico takes its name from Monsignor Giuseppe Maria Ercolani, who initiated the project. Today the arcades function as a gathering place where locals and visitors shop, walk, and experience how this structure has become central to daily life along the riverfront.
The gallery passage is easy to walk through on foot with level paths suitable for everyone. Visitors can explore the arcades at different times of day to experience how the space changes with lighting and activity levels.
The original plans included extending the portico to the left bank of the river, but financial constraints prevented this expansion from ever being completed. This unrealized vision shows how economic limitations shaped what we see today.
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