MUSEUM
Porta Paola - City Walls Documentation Center
Must-see because...
The centre is located inside the historic Porta Paola, one of the entrances to the ancient city
It is located in a central point from which you can take different routes to visit the city
Inside you will discover the interesting history of the city walls that still embrace the city today
The augmented reality tour of ancient city walls starts right here!
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Porta Paola - City Walls Documentation Center
Arriving in the city from Via Bologna, you might wonder what the sizeable monumental building in the centre of the square marking the entrance to the city centre is. It is Porta Paola, a former duty barrier that today, after careful restoration as part of the Mura Aperte project, is home to the Walls Documentation Center.
Historical Notes
The first indication that there was a San Polo or San Paolo Gate in this part of the city dates back to the 13th century. While the structure was remodelled in 1426, its current conformation dates back to 1612, when it was modified by the design of architect Giovanni Battista Aleotti.
Placed in the centre of the southern section of the Walls, Porta Paola had both military and customs functions. Next to the Gate, you can see the bastions of San Paolo and San Lorenzo, both completed during the 1600s.
The customs functions continued during most of the 1900s, with the following modernization of the structure. The impressive restoration carried out between 2001 and 2004, brought to light the ancient base, which can be seen today while walking on the square.
The Visit
One might ask why a space devoted entirely to the history of the City Walls is necessary. The answer is very simple: the walls are not only an extremely important historical monument but have been the subject, since the 1970s, of a landscape restoration project like few others in Italy. In this space, you will find all the historical stages that have led the ancient city walls to be one of the symbols of Ferrara, with its evocative 9 kilometres that can be entirely covered on foot or by bicycle.
Porta Paola is also the starting point of a guided tour that will take you to the Baluardo dell'Amore Archaeological Park, thanks to a QR code that you can scan inside the centre.
And, while you are there, you can make the most of it by getting some tips on food and wine initiatives and local products, as Porta Paola is also home to the Ferrara Province Wine and Food Trail Association, which promotes the area's food and wine local delicacies.
How about a different way to discover the history of the Walls of Ferrara, from its origins to the most recent restoration? Discover the Mura Aperte project and have a cutting-edge experience using augmented reality.
You may not know about...
TWO SIDES OF THE GATE. Walking around Porta Paola, you will notice the difference between one facade and the other. The one from which you enter the visitor centre, in marble stone with rustic ashlars crowned by a curvilinear tympanum, reflects in almost its entirety the design of Giovanni Battista Aleotti.
The facade facing the city, on the other hand, was modified and decorated in Istria marble.