Porta Solestà, Medieval city gate in Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Porta Solestà is a medieval gate made from travertine stone with a large arch and smooth walls, positioned at the southern end of the Augustan Bridge spanning the Tronto River. It connects Via Elisabetta Trebbiani with Rua delle Stelle, functioning as a passage between the city center and the ancient Roman bridge structure.
The gate was built in 1230 at the command of the Podestà as a defense against rival attacks from Fermo, replacing an earlier Roman structure. This type of fortification work was common during medieval expansion when cities frequently updated their walls and entries to maintain security.
The area around the gate remains a gathering place where locals and visitors experience the rhythm of medieval Ascoli. People naturally congregate here during celebrations and festivities that mark the city's traditions and connect residents to their shared past.
The gate serves as a clear landmark for orientation, with the two adjacent streets clearly marked and easily accessible from this point. Visitors can use it as a natural junction to explore both the city center and the bridge structure, which are straightforward to reach on foot.
A second defensive gate was built just a short distance away, demonstrating how the city layered its defenses during the medieval period. This additional structure eventually disappeared from the landscape, reminding visitors that medieval fortifications changed dramatically over time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
