Porta Dei Borghi - Lucca - Toscane

Porta dei Borghi is a gate in the old city walls of Lucca, which was almost completely demolished with the construction of the Renaissance walls. Of the four gates of this 13th-century circle, only Porta dei Borghi and Porta San Gervasio, located at the top of Via Santa Croce, remain.

The medieval walls were about 12 meters high with several semicircular and square towers and four monumental gates, which in turn were flanked by cylindrical towers, according to Roman custom. Porta dei Borghi faces north and was built between 1198 and 1265.

The gate, which now stands at the end of Via Fillungo, is located within the more recent 16th-17th-century walls, not far from the Porta Santa Maria, which played the role of the new entrance in the second half of the 16th century. took over from the north. It has one central opening (there used to be two, but one is now bricked up) and two side towers. The two towers, made of gray sandstone with white limestone trim, originally had battlements and an original walkway connecting the two peaks. Both the towers and the upper part of the gate are now in use as private residences.

The gate has a wide opening eight meters high and is covered by a round arch. In the space below is an antique fresco, framed by a lunette, depicting a Madonna and Child, restored in 2008 by the city of Lucca.

Willem Vandenameele