Photo: LigaDue, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fortress / Tower
Porta dei Pispini
City gate in Siena, Italy
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Siena”
At a glance
- Type
- Fortress / Tower
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 43°19′02″ N, 11°20′33″ E
History and description
The Porta dei Pìspini or Gate of the Water-spout is one of the portals in the medieval walls of Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is located on the east side of town, in the contrada del Nicchio in the terzo of San Martino, where Via Pìspini meets Via Aretina. The gate took its name from a nearby fountain; the nearby Fonte de' Pispina, however, was built in 1534–1538.
History
Originally it was called Porta San Viene, because through this gate the relics of Sant'Ansano came (vennero) into the city.
However construction of present gate was not begun until the 1250s, and the walls connecting to the nearby gates were not completed till the 15th century.
Like its generally contemporary Porta Romana, the gate has a double set of portals. Each gate has a crenellated roofline. The gate was erected in 1326 to a design by Minuccio di Rinaldo (Moccio).
A small bastion stands beside the gate, added by Baldassarre Peruzzi, between 1527 and 1532.
The interior facade once had a large fresco of the Nativity (1530–1531) painted by Sodoma; the deteriorated remains of the fresco are now kept in the Basilica di San Francesco.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Porta dei Pispini».
Photos
Getting there
SienaTrain, nearest
2.2 km as the crow flies
Porta dei Pispini
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the map
Abbadia Nuova0.2 km
Church of the Santuccio0.3 km
Museo della Società di esecutori di pie disposizioni0.3 km
Palazzo San Galgano, Siena0.3 km
Museo Bologna-Buonsignori0.3 km- Collezioni di Preistoria, archeologia classica, archeologia medievale0.4 km
Collezione senese degli strumenti di Fisica0.4 km- Museo della Contrada di Valdimontone0.4 km
More fortresses and towers in Tuscany
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Porta dei Pispini?
Porta dei Pispini is in Siena, in the province of Siena (Tuscany), Italy. GPS coordinates: 43.31731, 11.34247.
What else is there to see near Porta dei Pispini?
Nearby you’ll find: Abbadia Nuova (200 m away), Church of the Santuccio (300 m away), Museo della Società di esecutori di pie disposizioni (300 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- PispiniPortaFromSouth2 — LigaDue, CC BY 3.0
- Porta Pispini Siena — Gattodelballoccio, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Siena, fuori Porta Pispini — Alienautic, CC BY 4.0
- Siena, Porta Pispini (xilografia) — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Siena, porta pispini, 01 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Siena, porta pispini, ferri nel cortile della porta 01 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Siena, porta pispini, tabernacolo con la madonna — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- PispiniPortaAndFortinoPeruzzi — LigaDue, CC BY 3.0
- PispiniPortaFromSouth1 — LigaDue, CC BY 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences