Monument, Ferrara
Porta Paola is nowadays separated from the ring of walls of Ferrara and stands alone in the middle of the traffic. It gets its name from Paul V, pope from 1605 to 1621, who belonged to the great family of the Borghese. The name was bestowed on behalf of Cardinal Legato Spinola.
Pope Paul V has gained his own place in history for his role in several episodes during Galileo Galilei’s persecution. He is also well-known for the financial help he gave for the construction of Saint Peter in Rome, reason why his name is clearly seen on the main façade of the Church.
Previously, on the same spot, a namesake gate stood, but it was demolished in 1608. A restoration was therefore needed to allow access to the city, and in 1612 Giovanni Battista Aleotti was the architect in charge of the reconstruction works.
Porta Paola is currently one of the greatest displays of the architecture between the Mannerist and the Baroque period. Its façade is richly decorated and looks towards the nearby city of Bologna.
Decorated in ashlar white marble, enriched by half pilasters and surmounted by a curvilinear gable, the gate was mainly used for military functions, although its use has frequently changed in the past centuries.
In 1842 it was used for tolling and customs purposes, and therefore became the place for tax paying, although the public weigh-house was still in charge.
Its great walls hide the interior rooms, used by the guards and the caretaker who lived within the gate and controlled the access to the city.
In 1901 Porta Paola was separated from the rest of the city walls, so that it could mainly manage its bureaucratic functions. At both its sides, embedded in the walls, 2 gates remained opened during daylight, regulating the flow of people.
During the Napoleonic period, the gate changed and was called Porta Reno, as to cancel the pope’s name. Its original name was given back during following restorations.
The gate has been a protagonist in Ferrara’s recent history as well: at the end of the forties it became the seat of the the Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara, while its external façade was restored in 2001. A few years later, also the nearby areas have been requalified.
Near the gate, during excavation works, an ancient vessel was found. This finding confirms what historians and archaeologists have always supposed: that the city of Ferrara was, in the past, crossed over by several water canals that connected the city to the river Po and were essential for Ferrara’s thriving economy.
The gate was severely damaged during the earthquake in 2012. Yet, the works for its restoration have recently concluded and it is now open for visitors. Inside the gate you can find a little museum about the history of Ferrara's walls.
