Puerta De Santa Maria, City gate in Hondarribia, Spain
The Puerta de Santa María is the southern gate of the walls of Hondarribia, built in the mid-16th century by the engineer Fratin as a defensive position. Tiburcio Spanocchi later closed the gate forecourt, adding a large entrance door reached through a building (the Guardia Gorpua) and across a bridge with a lifting section and a fixed section. Excavations in 2009 uncovered these structures.
The gate was built in the 1500s when European towns strengthened their fortifications, featuring firing holes and a drawbridge for city defense. Its upper section was rebuilt in the 1800s in Neoclassical style, reflecting the structure's evolution across multiple centuries.
The gate is one of two entrances through Hondarribia's walls, the southern one; the other is the San Nicolás gate. Its name comes from the Virgin Mary, whose sculpture with two angels stands above the 1694 town shield. The gate also bears a sundial on its upper section.
The gate stands in the old city on Nagusia Street and is freely accessible on foot, inviting easy exploration. The area is flat and walkable, with nearby landmarks such as the Bishop's Palace and Castle only a few minutes walk away.
The gate originally featured firing holes and a drawbridge across a moat, making it a genuine defensive installation rather than mere passage. These practical features reveal how carefully it was designed to protect the town and guard those who entered.
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