San Nicola Gate (Anversa degli Abruzzi)

Walking along Via San Nicola, the gaze stops at Porta San Nicola, located in the westward direction, towards Via Foce and the small church of San Nicola, which leads towards Scanno. Above the gate, on the corner of the enclosure, stands an angular tower of the city walls, imposing in its breadth. The crossbow slit and the protruding apparatus with arched machicolations tell of its defensive function, designed to protect the entrance to the village. This passage, used during transhumance, saw the passage of flocks that, in the Renaissance, passed through to ascend to Piazzo Marcello, crossing the San Nicola valley. Today, the gate appears in Renaissance style, with a simple yet elegant appearance, characterized by a round arch in regular stone, resting on solid jambs. Every detail of the gate, from its imposing structure to the historical function it served, invites reflection on the life of the past and the importance of this passage in the context of the village.