Arco di Sant'Ercolano, Medieval city gate and arch near Sant'Ercolano church, Perugia, Italy
The Arco di Sant'Ercolano is a medieval city gate with a pointed arch and a carved stone lion on its facade. The opening connects two sections of the old town and shows how these passage gates were built.
The structure began as an Etruscan gate in ancient times as part of the city walls, but was completely rebuilt during the Middle Ages. The original round arch was replaced with a pointed gothic style, showing how medieval builders reshaped the city.
The lion carved above the entrance belongs to the Guelph period and represents the family that ruled the city then. Visitors walking through still see this symbol first.
The gate sits at the top of the Sant'Ercolano stairs and is easy to reach on foot from the historic center. The passage is always open and visitors can walk through freely at any time.
The structure was originally called Porta Cornea but took its current name from the nearby church and the neighborhood around it. This name change shows how local identity shifted with the most important buildings in an area.
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