Porta Napoli (Arco di Sant'Angelo)

Porta Napoli, also known as the Arch of Sant’Angelo, is a historic gate in Manduria. Its architrave bears the inscription “Manduria Restituta,” recalling the restoration of the city’s ancient name after the period when it was known as Casalnuovo. Three stone figures crown the structure: the Immacolata, San Gregorio and San Carlo Borromeo.

Why it matters

The gate combines a defensive entrance with a civic and devotional monument. Its inscription marks the return of the name Manduria by royal decree in 1789, while its sculptures reflect the city’s devotion to the Immacolata and its patron saints.

What to notice

The single round arch is built in exposed carparo. Pilasters and semi-columns support an entablature bearing the inscription traditionally read as “Manduria Restituta.” Above it, a tympanum and cornice support the statues of San Gregorio and San Carlo Borromeo, with the Immacolata and the city’s coat of arms set higher. The gate is also known as Porta Grande and Sant’Angelo.

Context and history

The Ministry of Culture catalogue dates the gate to 1570, while local historical research proposes a mid-seventeenth-century construction, around 1664–65. The gate’s name Sant’Angelo is associated with the nearby Servite church dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo; Porta Napoli refers to the road toward Naples. The inscription commemorates the 1789 decree that restored Manduria’s name after the city had been called Casalnuovo. The monument and inscription were restored in 2013.