Portici Ercolani, Portico in Senigallia, Italy

Portici Ercolani is a Neoclassical arcade along the right bank of the Misa River in Senigallia, built from 1746 under Pope Benedict XIV. It runs for 126 arches of Istrian stone, designed by Monsignor Giuseppe Maria Ercolani and Alessandro Rossi. The covered walkway shelters traders and pedestrians.

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 is named after Monsignor Giuseppe Maria Ercolani, who designed it in the mid-18th century for Pope Benedict XIV. The arcades were built to house the annual Maddalena Fair, one of the largest on the Adriatic in the 18th century. Traders still use the portico today, continuing Senigallia's tradition of fairs and markets.

The arcade runs the full length of the right bank of the Misa, next to the historic centre, so it works as a covered route on foot between the two. It is still used by traders, and the annual fairs and markets of Senigallia continue under the arches.

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.