I’ve been doing this walking urban meditation a couple times per week since I moved to the city last summer. Bologna ancient walls featured 12 magnificent gates. Ten of them are preserved to date making this a pleasant two hour circular pedestrian (also bike-able) route, visible from Space 🙂

On April 8 I decided to invite my 300 Instagram followers along via hashtag #Porta2PortaBologna. Thank you for all the likes and comments! Here are the unfiltered images and a few extras from my phone camera. For more, check out my Instagram or the official Bologna Welcome site and Wikipedia page (в том числе, по-русски). Onward!

Porta Santo Stefano was gateway to Tuscany & Florence since 13th century. Two customs houses now house an anarchist & queer collectives.

Giardini Margherita has been Bologna’s largest public park since 1879. When #Pope John Paul II visited the city, his helicopter landed there.

Porta Castiglione looks firm & fresh this since 15th century. Its secret? Gentle sunbaths & extra virgin olive oil. Duh!

Porta San Mamolo did not stand the test of time. In other news, Bologna is expanding its bike route network!

Porta Saragozza is where the San Luca Sanctuary pilgrimage path starts here and goes by some of the city’s best bars & bakeries.

Porta Saragozza is home to a kind of relic: the last public pissoir.

Canal di Reno

Canal di Reno

Canal di Reno

Porta San Felice leads to the airport

Porta San Felice leads to the airport

City walls are still present as recreational spaces along the Circolare route

Sometimes you nature and city clash in most vivid ways!

The partisans guard Porta Lame in commemoration of a battle against the Nazi occupation in 1944

Some city walls are more fun than others 😉

Porta Galliera is a complex fortress structure

Porta Galliera

Porta Galliera

Porta Mascarella (and others) still function as directive markers for the travellers

Porta Mascarella

Porta San Donato in the golden hour 😉

Porta San Donato is the University gate

Porta San Vitale

Porta San Vitale was perhaps the hardest working gateway to the city

Porta Maggiore in the romantic Emilia Romagna twilight

Grazie! Thank you! Спасибо!