Porta di San Gervasio: A Medieval Gateway

Porta di San Gervasio, or St. Gervasio's Gate, is one of the four gates from the 13th century that once formed part of the Walls of Lucca. Also known as dell'Annunziata (the Annunciation gate), it was completed in 1255 and dedicated to Saints Gervasio and Protasio. The gate has a wide opening, eight meters high, covered by a round arch. The inner lunette carries the image of Madonna and the Child, with two kneeling Saints (probably Gervasio and Protasio) and two Angels uncovering the curtain, as well as a fragment of San Giovannino at the foot of the Virgin. The two towers, made of gray sandstone with white limestone decorations, originally had battlements and a walkway connecting them at the top. Back in the day, the gate had a drawbridge over a moat; the latter is still preserved and runs opposite Via del Fosso. Today the two towers are used as private residences. In the top left one, seen from Via del Fosso, Italo Meschi (1887-1957), the guitarist, poet and anarchist-pacifist once lived; while in the right-hand tower, his cousin, painter Alfredo Meschi (1905-1981), had a studio. The gate underwent restoration in 2006-2007. While the walls were initially built for defensive purposes, they were never truly put to the test in battle. Today, the walls serve as a recreational area for locals and tourists alike. Visitors can stroll or cycle along the top of the walls, enjoying panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscape.