The historic southern gate to the city, from the old river port of Borgo Piave. At the beginning of XIX century have been heavily modified the side fortresses which defended the gate, the two little towers that flanked it (le “Torricelle”) and the large tower that existed on the left. Of the original structure, entered by Antonio Moro, the first venetian rector who occupied Belluno in 1404, and by emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1509, we can still see the internal arch dating to the end of XIII century. It still shows the stone frame that till mid XVII century used to contain the frescoed coat of arms of the Visconti dynasty, who ruled Belluno from 1383 to 1404.
The façade, finished with bricks instead of stones, which is pretty unusual for Belluno , follows the project ordered in 1622 by the venetian Rector Federico Corner to the architect Lorenzo d’Alchini. The central niche between the two coats of arms still contains the base and the feet of St. Mark’s lion carved in white stone that was hammered down by Napoleon’s revolutionaries in may 1797. It has been last restored in 1902.
Source: Marco Perale
ADDRESS
Porta Rugo, Via Santa Croce, Belluno
