Postigo del Aceite, Medieval city gate in Puerto de Indias district, Seville, Spain
Postigo del Aceite is a medieval city gate in Seville that connects the riverside promenade to the old town. The structure is a stone arch set into the remains of the old city wall, decorated on its outer face with carved religious figures.
The gate was built in the medieval period as part of the city walls that ran along the Guadalquivir riverbank. It was heavily reworked in the 16th century, which gave it the carved decoration and general form it has today.
The gate takes its name from the olive oil that merchants once carried through it from the riverbank into the city. During Holy Week, religious processions still pass under the arch, making it a living part of the city's calendar rather than just a relic.
The gate sits in the old part of Seville, close to the riverbank, and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. The archway is narrow and not wheelchair accessible, but the carved facade can be seen clearly from the street on both sides.
The gate has metal rails set into its base that were designed to hold wooden boards in place and block floodwater from the Guadalquivir from entering the city. These rails are still visible today and give a concrete idea of how often the river threatened the streets behind the wall.
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