Porta Cavalleggeri, City gate near Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Porta Cavalleggeri is a city gate near St. Peter's Basilica featuring two coats of arms from the House of Borgia that were placed during restoration work in the 16th century. The gate connects the Gianicolo hill to a large bus terminal through an underground passage constructed for the 2000 Jubilee.
The gate was originally called Porta ad Scholam Longobardorum after Lombard settlers nearby but was renamed when Pope Pius IV established cavalry barracks in the area during the 16th century. This change reflected the location's growing importance as a defensive point for Vatican territory.
The gate marks a place where military and religious power met, serving as both a defensive structure and a threshold to Vatican City. Visitors can still sense how this location brought together different spheres of authority.
The gate is best reached on foot from Gianicolo hill or from near St. Peter's Basilica, with several walking routes clearly marked. The underground passage to the bus terminal is helpful during bad weather, but walking access is more practical for most visitors.
The gate played a significant role during the attack on the Roman Republic in April 1849, when General Luigi Masi and his troops defended it against French forces. This overlooked chapter of Italian history is barely visible today, yet it makes this gate a silent witness to a turbulent political period.
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