Portico di Monte Berico

The Portico di Monte Berico is a long arcade connecting Vicenza's southern edge with the sanctuary of the Basilica di Monte Berico, begun in 1746 to a design by Francesco Muttoni.

Why it matters

The portico combines architecture with devotional symbolism. Its roughly 150 arches are divided into groups of ten, with landings recalling the structure of the rosary. The covered passage reshaped Vicenza's southern approach and established a direct visual axis between the city and the sanctuary.

What to notice

The repeated arches rise in groups, with chapel-like landings marking their divisions. The vaulted walkway frames views over Vicenza and the Berici hills. Its restrained late-classical design responds to the steep terrain while maintaining a continuous architectural rhythm.

Context and history

Francesco Muttoni began the portico in 1746; construction continued after his death in 1747 and lasted more than thirty years. The project prepared a devotional approach to the sanctuary, whose origins are associated with apparitions traditionally dated to 1426 and 1428. Twentieth-century urban growth reached the foot of the hill without breaking the portico's axis.