Porticos

Traditionally, porticos have open sides and a roof supported by two or more columns. With a higher number of columns and a wider area of coverage, the structure turns into a colonnade. The longest portico in the world – extending to an impressive 3.5km – runs from the edge of Bologna to the city’s Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.

Made from natural or cast stone (or more recently from GRP) porticos can incorporate a variety of decorative elements - entablature, architraves, capitals, volutes, friezes and cornices - as well as Doric, Ionic or Corinthian-style columns.

Smaller, wall-mounted door canopies and porches can be found elsewhere on this website, as can larger, contemporary entrance canopies for commercial and public buildings.