Bologna is a well-known city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. In ancient times, a triple ring of walls surrounded the center. Here is the history of the Bologna’s walls and entrance gates, which you may still see while visiting the city.
Visit Bologna’s walls and its gates
Bologna’s walls have an ancient history, as they first appeared during the Etruscan times. The walls remained intact until the 20th century, when the construction of the modern ring roads led to their demolition.
The history of Bologna’s walls
The first walls of Bologna date back to the Etruscan era, when the settlement was equipped with a protective ring. Indeed, archaeological excavations in Azzarita Square have uncovered the remains of a palisade with a covered gallery and walkway, both dating back to the 8th century BC. These initial defensive structures likely included ditches and wooden towers. Later, the Romans also fortified the city with embankments, canals, and ditches for defense purposes.
The Selenite Circle
The oldest Bologna’s walls that remain are those of the first circle, known as the “Selenite Circle.” Its construction served to defend against the barbarian invasions that caused the end of the Western Roman Empire. The name of this circle comes from the fact that blocks of selenite, a mineral found on the Bolognese hills, make up the walls.
Roman buildings supplied many of the blocks, which led to their reuse. The Selenite Circle was about 27 feet high and 7 feet thick. Its shape was quadrangular and protected a much smaller part of the city compared to the current historic center. Essentially, it enclosed only the wealthiest and most important districts.
The arrival of the Byzantines
The Byzantines divided the city into 12 sectors, known as horae. This name derives from the fact that, at certain hours of the day and night, a sector of the city had to take care of defending Bologna. The citizens on duty were required to go to the walls.
Initially, the city wall had four gates of access: Porta Ravegnana, Porta di San Procolo, Porta di San Sotero, and Porta di San Cassiano. Later, they added Porta Nova di Castiglione, Porta Nova, and Porta di Castello. The sections visible today of the Selenite Circle are near Conoscenti Palace in Via Manzoni, in Via Rizzoli, and in Via De’ Toschi.
Before the construction of the second wall, the Lombards in the 8th century built another section of it. It was east of the first circle and called it “Lombard Addition.”
The Circle of the Thousand
The development and expansion of the city, with the emergence of suburbs outside the first walls, necessitated the construction of new walls. Born around the year 1000, the second defensive ring is hence named the Circle of the Thousand. It was approximately 2 miles in length and featured 18 gates of access, known as “Torresotti”, due to their towers, of which four still stand today. Besides the surviving towers, walls of the Circle of the Thousand are in Verdi Square and in Via Maggia.
The Circla
The Circla is the third and final circle of Bologna’s walls. It traced the current ring roads and surrounded the Circle of the Thousand. The Circla dates back to the 13th century. Indeed, the organization of the city into districts, including the suburbs born outside the first two wall circles, occurred during this period.
Initially, they used a simple wooden palisade (1226). Stone replaced the wood in 1327. The walls of the Circla were about 5 miles long and had twelve gates. Each access gate had a drawbridge to cross the outer ditch. Most of the twelve gates are visible today and perfectly preserved. Continue reading this article for presentations of some gates.
The walls of Bologna come to an end.
The demolition project of the walls of Bologna dates back to the very early years of the 20th century (1902–1906). However, the idea already existed in the second half of the 19th century. Indeed, the walls were considered a limit to the future development of the city and too costly to maintain. At the time, they were in a state of decay.
The late 19th-century urban models, already implemented in the historic centers of Paris and Vienna, inspired the demolition of the walls. These demolitions signaled the end of the medieval city. However, the primary driving force behind the demolition was the significant unemployment in the construction sector at the time. The destruction of the walls of Bologna would provide work for thousands of men. They also worked on the construction of villas that later took the place of the walls.
The debate
A heated dispute broke out, dividing public opinion between supporters and opponents, despite the obvious advantages for some economic activities. The “modernists” wanted the implementation of a city redevelopment plan, while the “conservatives” wished to preserve the historical and architectural heritage of the walls. But the city of Bologna’s project also involved the demolition of the twelve access gates.
This debate featured prominent philosophers and politicians from the time. The municipality’s demolition plan succeeded in eliminating only two entry gates, including the most important, Porta Maggiore. However, demolition digs revealed the original 13th-century construction, which is still visible today, and the destruction did not occur.
The gates of Bologna
Here is the detailed history and description of the gates of Bologna.
Porta Maggiore
Porta Maggiore is located to the east of the historic center, along Via Emilia, and dates back to the 13th century. For a long time, it was the main gate of Bologna. Pope Julius II built a small fortress to strengthen it in 1507. In the 17th century, the arcades leading to Santa Maria degli Alemanni appeared.
In 1770, Porta Maggiore underwent a stylistic redevelopment. Its partial destruction occurred in 1903. However, during the demolition works, the original structure of the 13th century emerged. The discovery triggered a controversy, culminating in the decision to preserve the ruins.
Porta Castiglione
Porta Castiglione dates back to 1250 and is located at the intersection between Via Castiglione and the ring roads. The Savena canal once flowed next to it, providing the city with hydraulic energy. It underwent several abandonments over the centuries before assuming its current appearance in 1850.
Porta Santo Stefano
The Porta Santo Stefano structure is located in the square of the same name, close to the ring roads. It dates back to the 13th century and has undergone restoration works several times over the centuries. During a siege in 1512, it suffered severe damage with the loss of the original tower.
In 1843, the two buildings visible today formed the Gregorian Barrier, a new monumental entrance. At that time, all traffic to and from Florence passed through Porta Santo Stefano.
Porta Saragozza
Porta Saragozza is at the intersection between Via Porrettana and the ring roads. Its original core dates back to the 13th century, but its current appearance is the result of a heavy 19th-century remodeling. This structure is significant for the 17th-century portico leading to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca. Today, its tower houses the Museum of the Blessed Virgin of San Luca, preserving the devotional, historical, and artistic heritage associated with the image of the Madonna.
Porta San Felice
At the western end of the historic center, along Via Emilia, stands Porta San Felice, the second most important gate of the Circla, dating back to the 13th century. The city equipped it with a fortress and drawbridge in 1334. The gate has been central to many events in the history of the Bologna’s walls.
Indeed, King Enzo, the son of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, passed through this gate while imprisoned in the Palatium Novum. In 1325, the army of Modena defeated that of Bologna in the Battle of Zappolino. As they passed through the gate, some soldiers stole a bucket from a well, mocking the defeated Bolognese. This episode is known as the “Stolen Bucket.” In 1805, it underwent new modifications to accommodate Napoleon’s passage.
Porta delle Lame
Porta delle Lame is located in Piazza VII, November 1944, and its original structure dates back to the 13th century. This entrance led to the low plain, a territory characterized by marshes and swamps; hence the name (the Latin term “lame” is translatable to swamp). In 1334, two drawbridges appeared, one for the passage of carts, the other for pedestrians.
In the second half of the 17th century, the gate underwent a complete reconstruction and today displays the Baroque style. Porta delle Lame features two bronze statues depicting Italian Resistance partisans. Indeed, a fierce battle between partisans and Nazi-fascists took place here on November 7, 1944, which the latter lost.
Porta Galliera
At the northern edge of the historic center of Bologna, we encounter the monumental Porta Galliera. Originally, it was a quadrangular tower from the beginning of the 13th century. However, over the centuries, the building underwent numerous reconstructions, especially in the second half of the 17th century.
A plaque commemorates the insurrection of the citizens of Bologna on August 8, 1848, against Habsburg rule. Porta Galliera remained the last open. The Austrian soldiers fled from here, abandoning the city.
Porta Mascarella
Porta Mascarella rises in the street of the same name, near the bridge on Via Stalingrado. Its name derives from the “mascarella” district, a medieval term indicating fraud in contracts. At that time, the livestock market took place in the district, suggesting that fraud was commonplace. The gate dates back to 1300 and retains its original appearance.
Porta San Donato
At the intersection between the street of the same name and the ring roads, we can admire Porta San Donato. It is a monumental structure that dates back to the 13th century and includes rooms for the guards. In 1354, a drawbridge appeared. In the 1950s, a piece of walls disappeared to facilitate the passage of cars.
Porta San Vitale
Porta San Vitale is located at the end of the street that bears its name and dates back to 1286. It has always played an important role because it is located on the road axis to the cities of Forlì and Ravenna. It has always represented the gateway to the old part of Bologna. The building underwent several renovations over the centuries.
Bologna’s Walls: visit information
Tourists can see the ruins of Bologna’s walls and entrance gates on their own or with guided tours scheduled through Bologna’s Tourist Information Offices.
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Bologna Gallery
Walls and Gates of Bologna video
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Tourist information offices in Bologna
The tourist information offices in Bologna can be found at:
- Bologna Welcome to Infopoint Piazza Maggiore (IAT-R). Located on the first floor of the Palazzo del Podestà in Piazza Maggiore, the office provides the following services: hotel, restaurant, and tour reservations, as well as the option to purchase train tickets. At the office, it is also possible to purchase in advance tickets for theater shows and cultural and sporting events. The office operates from Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contacts: +39 051 6583111, booking@bolognawelcome.it
- eXtraBO, Outdoor Infopoint, Piazza Nettuno, 1/AB. The eXtraBo serves as the information point for outdoor activities in the Bologna area. The office aims to promote the green areas, including hills, lakes, trekking, canals, parks, and biodiversity. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Contacts: +390516583109, extrabo@bolognawelcome.it
