Designed in 1732 by Carlo Francesco Dotti and probably also by Francesco Bibiena. It’s the only baroque structure outside of Bologna’s walls and made possible with donations by the Monti Bendini family. It served to let traffic to pass by unhindered below but also for large numbers of pilgrims to pass overhead on their way to San Luca.

About Arco del Meloncello

Arco del Meloncello

The Arco del Meloncello constitutes the only original building of baroque architecture outside of Bologna’s city walls. Just as importantly at least for practicality reasons is that when Carlo Francesco Dotti designed the project in 1732 it would serve to bridge the porticoes running along from Porta Saragozza to those climbing up to San Luca – an urban problem that would only be appreciated years later due to the vital role that Via Saragozza played as a route in and out of the walled city.

This coat of arms made from copper belongs to the Monti Bendini family which is also painted four times inside the main loggia. They were said to have influenced greatly the building of the porticoes through large financial donations.

The baroque structure also served as another use and that was to let pilgrims which would have attended the church of San Luca in greater numbers than do presently to pass unhindered while the flow of traffic below them would also pass undisturbed.

At the beginning of the 20th century the director of the Regional Office of Monuments for the Tram Society, Ttio Azzolini, was given the task of finding a way to let electric trams travel to the nearby town of Casalecchio. The solution therefore concluded in raising the whole structure just enough to allow the trams to pass under the arch safely.

Particularly important is the center piece which is surrounded by huge, ionic columns supporting the porticoes. At the very top of this is a certain design element regarding the two sculptured flames coming out of a chimney in the shape of a vase; this is reflected similarly in the building opposite Porta Saragozza and for this reason it’s believed that Francesco Bibiena played some sort of design role in alongside Dotti.

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