Arches, doors, walls, porticos

Porta Paola

Porta Paola was designed and built in1612 by Giovan Battista Aleotti and dedicated to Pope Paul V who was pontiff at that time.

Like all the city gates in Ferrara, it was rechristened with a more republican name during the time of the French occupation. Porta Reno. Accordingly, this statuesque entrance to the city bears one name on the outer side and another (different) name on the inner. Heading eastwards, you will come across a section of the walls that while very old, was heavily modified in the late 1600’s on the orders of Duke Alfonso II.