The
original name of this gate of the Aurelian
Walls was Porta Flaminia
In the
tenth century it was known as Porta di S. Valentino as the Via Flaminia
passing under it leads in about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) to the Catacomb of S. Valentino
venerated for centuries by pilgrims
It was
called Porta del Popolo probably for the nearby church of S. Maria del Popolo built in
1099 by Pasquale II Raniero Blera (1099/1118) with a more or less voluntary
subscription of the Roman people
The gate is
now about 1.5 m (5 feet) above the ancient level of Rome
It was
rebuilt in 1561/62 by Giovanni Lippi aka Nanni di
Baccio Bigio (about 1513/68) to whom the work was subcontracted by
Michelangelo Buonarroti, who had been assigned the job by Pius IV Medici
(1559/65)
Four of the
six columns were taken from the ancient Basilica of St. Peter
The
original towers with circular bases were replaced by two massive square
watchtowers and the whole building was equipped with battlements
In 1658
between the two pairs of columns were inserted by the will of Alexander VII
Chigi (1655/67) the statues of “St. Peter” and “St. Paul” about 1639/52 by Francesco Mochi (1580/1654)
They had
been originally made for the Basilica of St. Paul but they were refused. Since
1980 there are copies and the originals are in the Museum of Rome at Palazzo
Braschi
INTERNAL
FAÇADE
1655 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598/1680) for Alexander VII on
the occasion of the arrival in Rome of Queen Christina of Sweden celebrated in
the inscription
The side
arches were opened only in 1887
Near
the door was found a “Measuring Stone for Customs” dating back to 175 AD, a
type of measurement also found by other gates
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