Porta Venere e Torri di Properzio

Porta Venere is an Augustan-era gateway in the western walls of Spello, framed by two medieval towers known as the Towers of Properzio. Its three arches and travertine masonry preserve a monumental entrance to the Roman city of Hispellum.

Why it matters

The gate was built to face a sanctuary area outside the Roman walls. Its location and design connect Spello's defensive circuit with the city's religious landscape beyond the walls.

What to notice

The gate is built of regular travertine blocks and opens through three arches, the central one higher than the side openings. The structure was reconstructed in the 1940s using recovered ancient material. The flanking towers have twelve-sided exteriors and rise more than eighteen metres, with four storeys of arched openings.

Context and history

Porta Venere dates to the Augustan period. The towers are medieval in their present form, though earlier origins have been proposed. Their name reflects a local tradition connecting the poet Propertius with Spello. The gate's inner line was linked to Porta Urbica by a Roman cryptoporticus.