Porta Magenta
Encyclopedia
Porta Magenta, formerly known as Porta Vercellina, was one of the city gates of Milan
, Italy
. The gate was established in the 9th century, with the Roman walls of the city; it was moved with the medieval and Spanish walls, and was finally demolished in the 19th century. The phrase "Porta Magenta" is now used to refer to the district ("quartiere
") where the gate used to be; the district is part of the Zone 7 administrative division of Milan, west of the city centre.
Both names "Porta Magenta" and "Porta Vercellina" refer to cities located west of Milan (respectively Magenta
and Vercelli
). The former name was after Vercelli as the gate controlled the road connecting Milan to this city; the latter name was chosen to celebrate the Battle of Magenta
, a decisive victory in the Second Italian War of Independence
.
era. There are no remnants of the Roman gate, although the area houses some of the best preserved Roman relics of Milan, namely part of the Imperial Palace (in Via Brisa), the "Anspertus Tower" (later adapted as a clocktower of the Maggiore monastery), and part of the foundations of the walls themselves.
In the 12th century, after Frederick I Barbarossa conquered and ravaged Milan, a new fortified walls system was built, enclosing a larger area, and Porta Vercellina was thus moved west, farther from the centre, to what is now Via Carducci, between the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
and the Sforza Castle. A moat
and a drawbridge
were added to the gate. In the middle ages, the name "Porta Vercellina" began to identify the rione
as well as the gate; the rione had its own coat of arms
. The only remnant of the medieval walls is a statue of Mary and Baby, now housed by the nearby Church of San Nicolao (Nicholas of Flüe
).
In the 16th century, during Spanish rule, the walls of Milan were again enlarged, and the gate moved again west, to what is now the corner between Via Toti and Corso Vercelli. This gate was demolished and rebuilt in the early 19th century, when Milan became the capital of the Napoleonic
Italian Kingdom. Porta Vercellina was actually among the first gates to be restructured, as it was destined to be used for the triumphal entry of Napoleon in Milan on 8th May 1805. The design of the new gate was commissioned to architect Luigi Canonica
. As with the other Napoleonic gates of Milan, Porta Vercellina had lost its defensive function, and became a toll gate.
The gate was renamed "Porta Magenta" in 1860, to celebrate the victorious Battle of Magenta
. In 1873, when the boundaries of Milan were enlarged and the surrounding Comune dei Corpi Santi was annexed to the city, the toll gate at Porta Vercellina lost its purpose, and in 1885 the gate was finally demolished.
, one of Milan's prominent landmarks as well as UNESCO
World Heritage Site
, which is known both for its architecture and for housing Leonardo da Vinci
's The Last Supper mural. Other landmark buildings in Porta Magenta include Palazzo Litta, the church of San Mauririzio, and the Palazzo delle Stelline. The district also includes the most well-known and historic jailhouse of Milan, the Carcere di San Vittore (in Via San Vittore).
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The gate was established in the 9th century, with the Roman walls of the city; it was moved with the medieval and Spanish walls, and was finally demolished in the 19th century. The phrase "Porta Magenta" is now used to refer to the district ("quartiere
Quartiere
A quartiere is a subdivision of certain Italian towns. The word is from quarto, or fourth, and was thus properly used only for towns divided into four neighborhoods. The English word "quarter" to mean a neighborhood A quartiere (plural: quartieri) is a subdivision of certain Italian towns. The...
") where the gate used to be; the district is part of the Zone 7 administrative division of Milan, west of the city centre.
Both names "Porta Magenta" and "Porta Vercellina" refer to cities located west of Milan (respectively Magenta
Magenta
Magenta is a color evoked by light stronger in blue and red wavelengths than in yellowish-green wavelengths . In light experiments, magenta can be produced by removing the lime-green wavelengths from white light...
and Vercelli
Vercelli
Vercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
). The former name was after Vercelli as the gate controlled the road connecting Milan to this city; the latter name was chosen to celebrate the Battle of Magenta
Battle of Magenta
The Battle of Magenta was fought on June 4, 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence, resulting in a French-Sardinian victory under Napoleon III against the Austrians under Marshal Ferencz Gyulai....
, a decisive victory in the Second Italian War of Independence
Second Italian War of Independence
The Second War of Italian Independence, Franco-Austrian War, Austro-Sardinian War, or Austro-Piedmontese War , was fought by Napoleon III of France and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia against the Austrian Empire in 1859...
.
The gate
A Porta Vercellina was part of the Roman walls of Milan; it was located in what is now Via San Giovanni sul Muro, at the corner of Via Meravigli. The gate was probably restructured (but not relocated) in the Roman EmpireRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
era. There are no remnants of the Roman gate, although the area houses some of the best preserved Roman relics of Milan, namely part of the Imperial Palace (in Via Brisa), the "Anspertus Tower" (later adapted as a clocktower of the Maggiore monastery), and part of the foundations of the walls themselves.
In the 12th century, after Frederick I Barbarossa conquered and ravaged Milan, a new fortified walls system was built, enclosing a larger area, and Porta Vercellina was thus moved west, farther from the centre, to what is now Via Carducci, between the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is a church in Milan, northern Italy.-History:One of the most ancient churches in Milan, it was built by St. Ambrose in 379-386, in an area where numerous martyrs of the Roman persecutions had been buried. The first name of the church was in fact Basilica...
and the Sforza Castle. A moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
and a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
were added to the gate. In the middle ages, the name "Porta Vercellina" began to identify the rione
Rione
Rione is the name given to a ward in several Italian cities, the best-known of which is Rome. Unlike a quartiere, a rione is usually an official administrative subdivision...
as well as the gate; the rione had its own coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. The only remnant of the medieval walls is a statue of Mary and Baby, now housed by the nearby Church of San Nicolao (Nicholas of Flüe
Nicholas of Flue
Saint Nicholas of Flüe was a Swiss hermit and ascetic who is the patron saint of Switzerland. He is sometimes invoked as "Brother Klaus."...
).
In the 16th century, during Spanish rule, the walls of Milan were again enlarged, and the gate moved again west, to what is now the corner between Via Toti and Corso Vercelli. This gate was demolished and rebuilt in the early 19th century, when Milan became the capital of the Napoleonic
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
Italian Kingdom. Porta Vercellina was actually among the first gates to be restructured, as it was destined to be used for the triumphal entry of Napoleon in Milan on 8th May 1805. The design of the new gate was commissioned to architect Luigi Canonica
Luigi Canonica
Luigi Canonica was a Swiss architect and urban planner whose prominent career as an exponent of neoclassicism was spent largely in Milan and Lombardy. He was the designated architect of the short-lived Repubblica Cisalpina, and, following the fall of the Napoleonic empire, of the kings of Sardinia...
. As with the other Napoleonic gates of Milan, Porta Vercellina had lost its defensive function, and became a toll gate.
The gate was renamed "Porta Magenta" in 1860, to celebrate the victorious Battle of Magenta
Battle of Magenta
The Battle of Magenta was fought on June 4, 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence, resulting in a French-Sardinian victory under Napoleon III against the Austrians under Marshal Ferencz Gyulai....
. In 1873, when the boundaries of Milan were enlarged and the surrounding Comune dei Corpi Santi was annexed to the city, the toll gate at Porta Vercellina lost its purpose, and in 1885 the gate was finally demolished.
The district
The district of Porta Magenta is a central district of Milan. Its main streets, Corso Magenta and Corso Vercelli, are a prominent shopping area, with several shops and large stores. Being part of the centre of Milan, the district is reach of 19th century monumental buildings and other prominent architectures, especially in Corso Magenta. The most important building in the district is the church of Santa Maria delle GrazieSanta Maria delle Grazie (Milan)
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a church and Dominican convent in Milan, northern Italy, included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites list...
, one of Milan's prominent landmarks as well as UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, which is known both for its architecture and for housing Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
's The Last Supper mural. Other landmark buildings in Porta Magenta include Palazzo Litta, the church of San Mauririzio, and the Palazzo delle Stelline. The district also includes the most well-known and historic jailhouse of Milan, the Carcere di San Vittore (in Via San Vittore).