Porta Santo Stefano (Bologna)

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The ancient Porta Santo Stefano it connected to Via Toscana, in the direction of Florence. It was demolished in 1843 and reconstructed by the architest Filippo Antolini, by command of Pope Gregory XVI.

The two buildings, which were used as customs house, were called the “barriera Gregoriana”, in honour of the pope. The city-gate was closed by two pillars and a big iron railing, which are still present at the entrance of Parco dei Giardini Margherita, near Porta Castiglione.

The last entrance to Porta Santo Stefano was that of the Italian King Vittorio Emanuele II. After the walls were demolished, the two building had different uses: public convenience, traffic police base, Euridice Choir, the Comitato per Bologna Storica e Artistica, the Circolo Anarchico erneri and the Bentini del PSI section.