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Porta Albana in Bagnoregio: the gate that moved to make room for the town
Almost everyone who arrives in the village passes through here. Porta Albana may look like a simple arch, but it is actually the true monumental entrance to Bagnoregio and its history. Many people only think of the bridge to the more famous village of Civita, but it is by crossing this threshold that you enter the heart of the town. It is one of the first things to see, and it conceals a curious story. A story of stones in motion.
The Cardinal's mark
It was built at the orders of Cardinal Giovanni Girolamo Albani, who inaugurated it in 1589. For the design he called upon one of the most prominent names of the era, the architect and sculptor from Orvieto, Ippolito Scalza. At the time, Scalza was a true local celebrity, engaged for decades as master builder for the construction of Orvieto Cathedral, where he also created the famous “Pietà” sculptural group. His signature on this work brings to Bagnoregio the echo of that great artistic period.
A gate on the move
The gate has not always stood where you see it today. If you look for the commemorative plaque, you will discover something incredible: at the beginning of the 20th century, precisely in 1906, the entire structure was dismantled piece by piece and moved back by 10 meters. It was a remarkable feat of engineering, needed to give more breathing space to the square behind it, Largo di Porta Albana, adapting the ancient urban layout to new requirements.
The gate is a public passageway in the centre of the village, always accessible and free of charge to visit.
