Porta Molino, Medieval city gate in Padua, Italy.
Porta Molino is a medieval city gate in Padua with a rectangular tower rising above the arched entrance. The structure displays thick defensive walls and architectural elements from different periods that shaped its form.
The gate was built in the 13th century as part of Padua's fortification system. Mills operated at this location and continued their work until the early 1900s.
The name refers to the mills that once operated here and shaped how the city functioned. Today the structure stands as a reminder of how water and craft were central to daily life in Padua.
The gate sits near the Bacchiglione River and marks a natural entry point to the city center. It is easily reached on foot from the Botanical Garden and stands in an area with other historic buildings nearby.
The upper floors served as a water reservoir in the late 1800s for one of the city's first drinking water systems. This practical use of the old structure shows how people adapted the building to meet new needs.
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