Porta Soprana, Medieval stone gate in Genoa, Italy
Porta Soprana is a medieval fortification in Genoa consisting of two round towers connected by a pointed arch. The structure stands on the Sant'Andrea hilltop in the eastern part of the city and forms a distinctive passage gate with thick stone walls.
The gate was built between 1155 and 1159 as part of defensive walls meant to protect the Republic of Genoa from imperial threats. Later it served as a prison in the 1800s until major restoration work between 1882 and 1914 returned it to its medieval form.
The name 'Porta Soprana' means 'Upper Gate,' referring to its position at the highest point of the medieval city wall. You can still see the stone passageways that once channeled merchants and residents through the fortification daily.
You can reach the gate during daylight hours from Via di Porta Soprana, a direct path leading uphill from the modern city center. The steep alleys surrounding the site can be tiring on hot days, so visiting in early morning or late afternoon works better.
The location has a direct connection to Christopher Columbus, whose family lived nearby and who may have walked these streets as a child. Some historians believe the famous navigator spent his childhood in the alleys surrounding this gate.
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