Porta Argentea, Roman city gate of Milan
Porta Argentea was the eastern gate of the Roman walls of Mediolanum, built after 291 under Emperor Maximian. It stood where Piazza San Babila and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II now meet, and the via Mediolanum-Brixia left the city through it. It was demolished in 1162 during the siege of Milan.
The gate was built during the Roman era and became part of an expanded defensive system after 291 AD under Emperor Maximian. In 1162, it was demolished during the siege led by Frederick Barbarossa, marking the end of Roman structures in the city.
The site is located near present-day Piazza San Babila and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, busy streets in Milan. Since few visible remains of the original Roman gate survive, it is best to explore the area on foot and look for any historical markers or archaeological information.
The name comes from the Latin word for silver and may have been linked to silver mining activities across the Roman Empire. The gate was one of two known eastern entrances, each serving different trade routes and strategic purposes for the city.
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