Porta Palatina

Porta Palatina is a Roman city gate in Turin, which once allowed access from the north to the ancient city of Iulia Augusta Taurinorum. The gate is located in Piazza Cesare Augusto, not far from the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista.

SHORT HISTORY OF PORTA PALATINA

The Palatine Gate was built in the 1st century BC during the Augustan or the Flavian Age, preceding the construction of the city walls.

Porta Palatina maintained its function as a city gate for a long time, and in the 11th century it was transformed into a fort.

In 1404, after centuries of decay, the left tower was rebuilt, and both towers were completed by battlements for defensive purposes.

In the early decades of the 18th century, the urban renewal process initiated by Vittorio Amedeo II provided also for the demolition of the Palatine Gate. However, the dismantling was not carried out thanks to the intervention of the architect Antonio Bertola, who managed to convince the duke to preserve the ancient monument.

Starting with 1724, the towers of the gate were used as a prison.

In 1860, with the construction of the new prison of the city, Porta Palatina was restored. In the early years of the 20th century, the architect Alfredo D’Andrade carried out a radical restoration of the gate.

The Palatine Gate was again the subject of restoration from 1934 to 1938, following a decision by the fascist regime. All the archways were therefore opened, and the structure was isolated from the surrounding urban context, after a group of old houses close to the monument were demolished.

In 2006, on the occasion of the XX Olympic Winter Games, the area was completely redesigned. The project was commissioned by the City of Turin, and carried out by the architects Aimaro Isola, Giovanni Durbiano and Luca Reinerio.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PORTA PALATINA

Porta Palatina is more than 30 meters high, with two corner towers characterized by a square base and a body marked by a sixteen-sided facet.

The central body is about 20 meters long and has arched single lancet windows in the first order and rectangular windows in the upper order. Below, there are two driveways and two smaller pedestrian passages placed laterally.

The pair of bronze statues depicting Caesar Augustus and Julius Caesar located in front of the gate are not originals, but copies dating back to the last restoration of 1934.

HOW TO GET TO PORTA PALATINA

Porta Palatina is located about 1.6 kilometers from the Porta Nuova railway station and about 1.8 kilometers from the Porta Susa railway station.

The closest bus and tram stop is Duomo – Musei Reali, located about 200 meters away, on the tram Lines 4 and 7, and on the bus Lines 4 ROSSO, 11, 19, 27, 51, 57 and 92.