Madonna di San Luca, Bologna
| Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Saint Luke Santuario della Beata Vergine di San Luca (in Italian) | |
|---|---|
The sanctuary of the Virgin of Saint Luke on the top of the Colle della Guardia | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor basilica |
| Location | |
| Location | Bologna, Italy |
Interactive map of Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Saint Luke Santuario della Beata Vergine di San Luca (in Italian) | |
| Coordinates | 44°28′48″N 11°17′53″E / 44.480°N 11.298°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architects | Carlo Francesco Dotti Donato Fasano Giovanni Antonio Ferri Giovanni Giacomo Dotti Angelo Venturoli |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1194 |
| Completed | 1765 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a basilica church located in Bologna, northern Italy, situated atop the forested hill of Colle (or Monte) della Guardia, approximately 300 metres above the city plain, just southwest of the historical centre.
Although a modern road leads to the sanctuary, it is more traditionally accessed via a 3.8 km-long monumental portico consisting of 666 arches, constructed between 1674 and 1793. This covered arcade, part of the Porticoes of Bologna UNESCO World Heritage Site, was originally designed to shelter the annual procession of the sacred icon of the Virgin Mary from the cathedral in central Bologna to the sanctuary. Many of the arches were originally sponsored by prominent families, and some included icons or small chapels.