Porta Spagnola ( Italian for Spanish Gate ), also known as the Porta di Terra ( Land Gate ) is a city gate in Augusta , Sicily . It was built between 1681 and 1682 as part of the city's fortifications.
6-504: The fortifications of Augusta were constructed in the 1670s and 1680s to designs of the Flemish military engineer Carlos de Grunenbergh . On 13 May 1680, the city council granted a loan of 30,000 scudi for the construction of the Porta Spagnola, which was built between 1681 and 1682. The gate is the only entrance into the historic centre of Augusta, and it was built across an isthmus which
12-550: A lion and a griffin . Below the escutcheon there is a Latin inscription which reads: D O M CAROLO II HISPANIARVM AC SICILIÆ REGE IMPERANTE, DON FRANCISCVS BENAVIDES COMES SANT STEVAN SICILIÆ PROREX IN TANTI PORTV. LITORE MVNIENDO NON SOLVM SICILIÆ SED TOTIVS ITALIÆ ET CHRISTIANI NOMINIS INCOLVMITATI CONSVLERE EXISTIMAVIT ANNO M DC XXCI [REDACTED] Media related to Spanish gate (Augusta) at Wikimedia Commons Carlos de Grunenbergh Carlos de Grunenbergh , also known as Carlo Grunenberg (died 1696),
18-524: The construction of the Carafa Enceinte around Fort Saint Elmo . Grunenbergh came to Malta again in 1687, and designed and paid for the construction of batteries and other major alterations to Fort St Angelo . To honour his contribution, he was made a Knight of Devotion of the Order of St. John. His coat of arms and a commemorative inscription are also located at the fort's main gate. Grunenbergh directed
24-508: The last few decades of the century, including the walls of Augusta , Messina and Catania . In 1681, Grunenbergh was invited to Malta by Gregorio Carafa , the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John . He made a number of improvements and modifications to the islands' fortifications . The improvements included the addition of batteries to the fortifications of Valletta and Senglea , and
30-553: Was a Flemish architect and military engineer active in the late 17th century. He mainly designed fortifications in Sicily and Malta . He was also a member of the Order of Saint John . In the mid-17th century, Grunenbergh worked in Spain with his brother Ferdinand. He was eventually appointed as the military engineer of the Viceroy of Sicily , and he designed or modified various fortifications in
36-480: Was subsequently excavated, turning the city into an island. The design of the gate is attributed to Grunenbergh himself. The gate was located a few hundred metres away from another gate known as the Porta Madre di Dio, which no longer exists. Porta Spagnola was damaged in an earthquake on 13 December 1990, and it was restored in 2005. The gate is topped by a marble coat of arms topped by a crown and supported by
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