Porta Ognissanti, City gate at Via del Portello, Padua, Italy.
Porta Ognissanti is a city gate spanning the Piovego canal that connects Padua's center with surrounding areas. Built from white Istrian marble with eight columns rising from the water and a clock tower at its top, the structure features three arches designed for vehicle and foot traffic.
The gate was built in 1518 by architect Guglielmo Grizi as a replacement for an earlier structure, supporting trade between Padua and Venice along the water route. This reconstruction reflected the city's effort to modernize its connections and facilities.
Stone carvings of game patterns remain visible on the parapet, showing how guards spent their downtime while watching the gate. These simple marks tell the story of the people who watched over this place for centuries.
The gate serves as a working crossing point for vehicles and pedestrians traversing the canal, making it an active part of the city's daily movement. The structure is easy to locate from Via del Portello and offers clear passage with good visibility from all directions.
The internal architrave displays the inscription Pons Omnium Sanctorum, a Latin name that reveals the gate's original identity. Four trachyte cannonballs decorate the architectural elements as reminders of its past role in defending the city.
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