The Arcades of Bolzano - Via dei Portici, in Italian, and Laubengasse, in German - is the most famous and most visited alley in Bolzano: The shopping street with its Gothic arches connects the Piazza delle Erbe square with the Town Hall Square.

The Arcades have always been the heart of Bolzano’s trade: Trade was already carried on under the round arches in the 12th century, when the Arcades were built by the Prince-Bishops of Trento. The vaults behind them served as storage space for goods, the apartments with atrium above served as accommodations. The typical “Laubenhaus” is 4 m wide and about 50 m deep, has wrought iron railings and characteristic oriels. The Old Town Hall is also located here: On its façade you can see remains of paintings by Conrad Waider from the 15th century.

Today the 300 m long Arcades are a much frequented shopping street: Under the arches you can find numerous shops - small old-established as well as big chains - and the two antique pharmacies “Madonna” and “Schwarzer Adler”. Every year on the 10th of August, however, the Arcades become a festival mile: Then the Night of St. Lawrence is celebrated with South Tyrolean wines.

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