Tara & Louisa Under the Portici in Piazza Santo Stefano
After receiving a research grant from the Colby College Center for Arts and Humanities, we (Tara Venkat and Louisa Baum) spent the month of January 2021 in Bologna, Italy researching its unique architectural features. This research highlights not only the physical modifications they have undergone over time, but also the impact they have had on the identity of the Bolognese citizens. We focus mainly on how Bologna has recently allocated and re-negotiated the use of its urban spaces in response to the changing socio-economic, religious, cultural, and political demands. This focus was undertaken through an aesthetic and practical lens as well as a sociological and ethnographic perspective to dive deeper into the connection between the portici (a pervasive architectural feature of Bologna), and the political commune of Làbas (a community based political organization which reclaimed some spaces in the city center). We welcome you to explore these elements with us through this site.