Porta delle Lame, City gate in Bologna, Italy.
Porta delle Lame is a city gate in Bologna that forms part of the medieval defensive walls and features two different passage openings. The structure combines various architectural layers and marks a distinct point between the city center and the outer districts.
The original gate was built in 1334 to protect the growing city and control traffic flow. In 1677 architect Agostino Barelli completely rebuilt it, transforming it into a Baroque style structure.
The gate takes its name from the nearby Via Lame that runs through the area. Today it serves as a place where locals and visitors can directly experience Bologna's medieval past.
The gate sits at the intersection of Via Lame and Via Zanardi and serves as a good landmark for pedestrians exploring the medieval walls. The location is easy to reach on foot and accessible from all sides.
The gate originally featured two separate passages, one for wagons and one for pedestrians, a design reflecting the traffic needs of the medieval city. This dual division remains visible in its structure today, even though its use has changed over the centuries.
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