Porta Pia

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Map

Porta Pia

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The Porta Pia, a gate in the ancient Aurelian Walls, was designed by Michelangelo (1475-1564) for Pope Pius IV (r. 1559-65). It was the master's last architectural work and he died shortly before it was completed. The final stage of the project was carried out by Giacomo del Duca (c. 1520-1604).  
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Hailing from Milan, Pope Pius IV was born Giovanni Angelo Medici, a distant relation of the famous Florentine clan.

According to legend, the curious decorative device above the coat of arms of Pius IV depicts a towel draped over a bowl, and a bar of soap, a sign that the pope was the descendant of a family of Milanese barbers. The bowl and towel (minus the soap) are twice repeated at a lower level. 

The inscription above the entrance reads: PIVS · IIII · PONT · MAX / PORTAM · PIAM / SVBLATA · NOMENTANA · EXSTRVXIT / VIAM · PIAM / AEQVATA · ALTA · SEMITA · DVXIT (Pius IV, Pontifex Maximus, having destroyed Porta Nomentana, built Porta Pia and traced Via Pia by levelling the Alta Semita). 

At a higher point is the coat of arms of Pope Pius IX (r. 1846-78) and an inscription: PIVS IX PONTIFEX MAXIMVS / TVRRIM DIV IMPERFECTAM FVLMINE TACTAM / REPARAVIT ABSOLVIT AN M DCCC LIII (Pius IX, Pontifex Maximus, repaired the tower, which had been struck by lightning,  and completed it in the year 1853). 

Outer Face of the Porta Pia

An outer gate was added to the Porta Pia in 1869, the work of the Roman architect Virginio Vespignani (1808-82). It was commissioned by Pope Pius IX (r. 1846-78) as a memorial to his escape following the collapse of the audience chamber at the convent of Sant' Agnese fuori le Mura (which lies on Via Nomentana, the road beyond the gate), which took place during the pope's visit on April 12th, 1855. The inscription reads: HIEROMARTYRIBVS · MAGNIS · ALEXANDRO · PONT · MAX · AGNETI · VIRG / · QVORVM · TROPAEIS · VIA · NOMENTANA · NOBILITATVR  / PIVS · IX · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · ANNO · SACRO · PRINC · XXII / PORTAM · PIAM · NOVIS · OPERIBVS · COMMVNITAM · EXORNATVM · DEDICAVIT / DECESSORI · INVICTO SOSPITATRICI · SVAE (In the 23rd year of his sacred office, Pius IX Pontifex Maximus, dedicated Porta Pia,  fortified and embellished with new works, to the great martyrs for the faith Pope St Alexander, his invincible predecessor, and the virgin Agnes, his preserver, by whose victory memorials, Via Nomentana is ennobled). 

The gate is flanked by statues of St Agnes and Pope St Alexander. Each saint is surmounted by a short inscription: ORNAT ET FOVET (She beautifies and cherishes) and REGIT ET TVETVR (He guides and guards). 

Photograph Showing Traces of the Bombardment of September 20th 1870

On September 20th, 1870, the Porta Pia entered the annals of modern Italian history when troops of the Kingdom of Italy broke through the walls, a few metres west of the gate, and entered Rome. This brought to an end papal rule of the Eternal City, leading one wag to comment: 'Porta Pia, ieri tua, oggi mia' ('Porta Pia, yesterday yours, today mine'). ​​

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