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Porta Napoletana in Velletri: the Last Volscian Gateway on the Appian Way
Porta Napoletana is the only survivor of the six gates that gained entry to Velletri in the Middle Ages. It stands along the old Appian Way, facing south towards Terracina and the border with the Kingdom of Naples — hence its name. It was built between 1511 and 1519 by Lombard craftsmen, the central body flanked by two massive semicircular towers. No traces remain of the ancient Volscian walls: the Romans razed them to the ground in 338 BC after defeating the city.
A Customs and Health Inspection Barrier
In the 16th century the six medieval gates had been reduced to three. Only Porta Napoletana has survived intact. On the stone of the door jamb the inscription si paga gabella — toll payable here — is still carved, commissioned in 1596 by the Congregazione del Buon Governo (Congregation for Good Governance): those entering the city had to pay a tax. The gate was also used for conducting health checks — during the plague epidemic of 1656 it was walled up to prevent the entry of those potentially infected.
From the 18th Century to Today
Reinforced in the 18th century and restored in 1991, today it houses the local branch of the Associazione Italiana Sommelier. It was originally called the "bishop's gate" due to its proximity to the curia. From whichever side one looks at it — rounded on the outside, square on the inside — it remains one of the best-preserved examples of Renaissance military architecture in the Castelli Romani.
