Pile Gate, Dubrovnik, Main city gate in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Pile Gate is Dubrovnik's main city entrance and functions as a double entry system with an outer gate featuring a Renaissance arch and an inner gate displaying Gothic architecture. The two passages work together to create a protected zone that visitors pass through before reaching the interior.
Constructed in 1537, the gate originally included a wooden drawbridge that guards raised each evening and handed the key to the city rector for safekeeping. This system was part of the defensive infrastructure that protected the settlement for centuries.
The entrance displays two statues of Saint Blaise, including one created by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović, reflecting Dubrovnik's religious heritage. These figures greet visitors as they enter and shape the first impression of the city.
The gate offers wheelchair access through a ramp system and serves as the primary entrance to reach Stradun, the main street of the old town. The ramps are manageable in both directions and allow smooth passage into the city.
Fort Bokar stands as the westernmost tower of the city walls directly beside it and was built specifically to defend this monumental entrance. This fortress demonstrates how critical this location was for protecting the entire city.
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