PORTA SAN PIETRO (San Pietro Gate)

HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
This gate is named after the nearby church founded by cardinal raniero capocci in 1240. at one time, it was also called salicicchia, probably because of its vicinity to the castel di salce.  this gate was closed several times during the 12th century because of attacks by roman troops and was walled up when the plague struck viterbo in 1630. it was reopened in 1714 at the request of the monks of s. pietro del castagno. francesco armellini and antonio martelli  were placed at its defense and ordered  to allow only known residents of viterbo to enter through the gate. today, the gate retains the originial crest of viterbo, the lion and palm, carved in bas-relief. the gate was also decorated with a fresco of the madonna and child and an angel holding up the scroll of civitatem protege tuam; however, it is now housed in the civic museum of viterbo so that it may be better preserved.

PORTA SAN PIETRO
Translation by clare kuntz, goucher college, enrolled in the usac viterbo program.