Porta Ovile, Medieval city gate in Siena, Italy.
The Porta Ovile is a brick gate in Siena that connects two main streets while featuring solid defensive walls. This structure serves as an entry point and sits near a major Franciscan convent on the city's outskirts.
The gate was built in the 13th century and reinforced shortly after to defend the city from attacks. During a major conflict in the 16th century it was sealed, and a natural disaster later caused significant structural damage.
Inside the gate, a fresco by Sano di Pietro shows Mary and Jesus surrounded by saints, painted in the 14th century. This religious artwork remains visible today and reflects how the city once decorated its important passages with sacred images.
The gate is accessible by several bus routes and sits near other landmarks worth exploring. Visitors can walk through the area and use the gate as a reference point to navigate this section of the city.
The gate played a notable role in the city's defense history and still bears marks from past events on its structure. The damage from a natural disaster remains visible today and tells a story of how the city endured hardship.
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