Porta Angelica

About

Porta Angelica was a gate of the Leonine Wall in Rome (Italy). it rose close to the corner of the present Viale dei Bastioni di Michelangelo, Piazza Risorgimento and Via di Porta Angelica, where a coat of arms of Pope Pius XI is now visible. The gate, built before 1563 by Pope Pius IV with an elegant and simple bossage, was the main access route for the pilgrims arriving to Rome through Via Cassia or via Flaminia. The name Angelica (Italian for "Angelic") originates from the Christian name of the Pope who built it, Giovanni Angelo Medici, who wanted to convey the memory of his own works, not just through the inscriptions, but also in the denominations of the monuments he realized (also Porta Pia is dedicated to him).

Some remains of the gate are still visible enchased in the wall along Viale dei Bastioni di Michelangelo: they are a linear inscription "ANGELIS SVIS MANDAVIT DE TE VT CVSTODIANT TE IN OMNIBVS VIIS TVIS" ("He sent his angels to you so that they watch over you along all your ways"), the coat of arms of Pius IV (from which the balls have been removed) and two statues of cross-bearing angels, formerly placed on the sides of the gate. According to some testimonies, the gate...