Porta Maggiore, Medieval city gate in Bologna, Italy

Porta Maggiore is a roofless brick gate at Bologna's eastern edge, where Strada Maggiore becomes Via Mazzini. It consists of two pointed arches in series, stripped of its former facade and covered passageway. The structure stands as an obstacle in the road, crossed daily by pedestrians and vehicles.

The gate dates to the 13th century and underwent major changes around 1507 under Pope Julius II. Later repairs in 1770 by Giovanni Giacomo Dotti gave the structure much of its current appearance.

The gate marks where the old city and outer districts meet, with locals using it daily as a passage between different parts of town. The brick structure shapes how people experience the city's layout and shows how medieval features still influence everyday movement.

The gate sits at the intersection with Viale di Circonvallazione and is freely accessible to both pedestrians and vehicles at any time. There are no special restrictions, so you can walk or drive through without limitations.

Porta Maggiore was decreed for demolition in 1903 and dismantling had already begun when debate halted the work in 1909; the surviving ruins were then conserved and restored under Alfonso Rubbiani. The gate still stands as a roofless brick shell with two ogival arches in series, stripped of its facade and covered passageway.