Porta Saragozza is one of ten surviving gates from the third ring of medieval walls that once enclosed Bologna. The crenellated brick structure has been restored several times — the present neo-Gothic appearance dates from 1859 — but the spot itself has been a gateway since the thirteenth century.
The gate marks the start of the world's longest covered portico, the 3.8-kilometre walk up to the Madonna di San Luca on the hill above. The neighbourhood around the gate, the Saragozza district, is residential and unfashionable, which makes it a quiet starting point for the climb. Look back from the first arches for the best view of the gate.