Porta San Felice

Porta San Felice is one of the historic gates of Bologna, located at the western end of the city. Built in the 13th century, this gate represents a crucial point of entry due to its strategic location along the Via Emilia, one of the main arteries connecting Bologna to other important cities such as Modena. Throughout its history, Porta San Felice has been the scene of numerous military and political events, earning the nickname “Gate of War”. The historical context of Porta San Felice is deeply linked to the struggles between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions, with Bologna often at the center of these tensions. One of the most famous events related to the gate is the “Rape of the Bucket”. In 1325, after the battle of Zappolino, the victorious Modenese soldiers took a bucket from a well near the gate as a trophy, symbolizing their mockery towards the defeated Bolognese. This event was immortalized in the eponymous heroic-comic poem by Alessandro Tassoni. In 1334, the gate was reinforced with a crenellated tower and a drawbridge to improve its defensive capabilities. Over the following centuries, Porta San Felice underwent various restorations, including a significant one in 1508 that saw the construction of an outwork to protect the drawbridge. In 1805, during Napoleon Bonaparte’s visit, the gate was restored again and later, in 1840, swallowtail merlons were added to the surrounding walls. Porta San Felice also had a fiscal function. The attached buildings housed the tax collectors responsible for collecting duties on goods entering the city. This economic role helped to consolidate the importance of the gate in Bologna’s urban system. From an artistic point of view, the gate is an example of medieval military architecture, with its defensive structures bearing witness to the construction techniques and warfare strategies of the time. The restoration of the gates of Bologna, including Porta San Felice, carried out between 2007 and 2009, has allowed to preserve and enhance these historical elements, making them accessible to the public and integrating them into the modern urban fabric.