Porta Reale, City gate in Noto, Italy.
Porta Reale is a triumphal arch that stands at the start of Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main street of Noto's historic center. It is built with two pilasters topped by Corinthian capitals and frames the formal entrance to the old town.
The gate was designed in 1838 by Orazio Angelini, a Neapolitan architect, for King Ferdinand of Bourbon. It was part of the long process of rebuilding Noto after the earthquake of 1693 had destroyed the original town.
Three stone figures sit on top of the gate: a tower for strength, a dog for loyalty, and a pelican for self-sacrifice. These symbols show the values that the city chose to represent itself after being rebuilt from scratch.
The gate stands right at the entrance to the main street and is easy to reach on foot from most parts of the old town. From here, the rest of the historic center spreads out ahead and is comfortable to explore by walking.
The upper section of the arch carries two separate coats of arms: one belonging to the Marquis of Cannicarao family and one representing the city. It is rare to see both a noble family and a civic authority share the same gate in this way.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
