Porta Romana

The gate

The Roman walls of Milan already had a gate facing in the same direction as Porta Romana; yet it was located much closer to the city centre, in a place that corresponds to what is now Piazza Missori. In the Middle Ages (12th century) the walls were enlarged, and the gate was moved outwards in the direction of modern Corso di Porta Venezia. In the 16th century, a third system of walls was built under the Spanish rule, and the gate was moved further away from the centre to its current location. The construction of the gate was completed by 1596, on the occasion of Queen Margaret of Spain visiting Milan. For two centuries, Porta Romana was the most sumptuous gate of Milan.

Porta Romana is located at the centre of a city square called Piazza Medaglie d'Oro, about 2 km south-east of the city centre. It is placed at the conjunction of several major streets, namely Corso Lodi (to the south east), Viale Montenero (to the north east), and Corso di Porta Romana (leading north west, towards the Duomo).

The structure of the gate is inspired by Roman triumphal arches of the doric order.

The district

The area around the Porta Romana gate is one of the historic districts (rioni) of Milan; the rione had its own coat of arms, vermilion red. Today, the inner part of the Porta Romana district is adjacent to the city centre, and thus has a similar character as the centre itself: it is mostly a shopping district, with sumptuous 19th century- and early 20th century buildings that are either used as prestigious offices or as residences for the Milanese élite. Several institutions, including embassies and high level schools, are based in this area. Milanese celebrities that have lived here include Enzo Biagi, Enzo Bearzot, and Dario Fo. The southern part of the district, farther away from the centre, is correspondingly less luxurious. Specific situations of urban decay, such as slums developing in abandoned traits of the old railway, have been reported.

Much of the activity today centres on the Policlinico hospital and the famous Bocconi University so there is a young population by day, although there is not the same student buzz here as in other parts of the city.