Porta Felice
Porta Felice | |
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General information | |
Architectural style | Renaissance, Baroque |
Location | Palermo |
Country | Italy |
Coordinates | 38°07′11″N 13°22′16.60″E / 38.11972°N 13.3712778°E |
Construction started | 1582 |
Completed | 1637 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Mariano Smiriglio |
Porta Felice is a monumental city gate of Palermo, Sicily; the gate is located in the zone of the Foro Italico and the Castellammare quarter. It represents the water-side entrance into what was formerly known as Via Cassaro, the most ancient main street of the city, but renamed Via Vittorio Emanuele after Italian unification. The gate was built in Renaissance and Baroque styles between the 16th and 17th centuries.
History
In 1581 the street of the Cassaro was extended in the vicinity of the sea.
In the following years the construction was stopped.
During the
Art
Flanking the pillars on the second floor, facing seaward, are statues representing two female saints: Santa Ninfa and Santa Cristina. At the top of the pillar are eagles with the coat of arms of the viceroy Colonna. The eagle as well is a symbol of Palermo and the Hapsburg monarchs.
See also
References
External links
- (in Italian) Image gallery
- (in Italian) History of the gate - Provincia Regionale di Palermo