Porta Testa

Porta Testa is the western gate of Finalborgo, built in 1452 under Giovanni I Del Carretto. Its medieval stone arch, heraldic carving and later bell tower preserve distinct phases in the life of the fortified town.

Why it matters

The gate formed part of the fifteenth-century defences of the Del Carretto marquisate. Its inscription dates the work to 10 June 1452, giving a precise historical anchor to a structure subsequently altered for civic as well as defensive purposes.

What to notice

The pointed opening is framed by squared Finale stone and dentil mouldings. Above it, a projecting defensive structure rests on curved corbels. The keystone carries the Del Carretto eagle and shields, still legible despite old chiselling. Painted community arms and a fresco of the Madonna with Saints Blaise and John Nepomuk add later images to the passage.

Context and history

A circular bastion once reinforced the approach but was demolished in 1827 in connection with the new bridge over the Pora. Late-nineteenth-century modifications changed the gate's silhouette; the bell and clock were added in 1909. These additions distinguish the medieval entrance from its later role as a civic landmark.