Fortezza di Porta Sole (1372-5)

Terrace of Piazza Rossi Scotti,
which formed the foundations of Fortezza di Porta Sole
(with the campanile of Santa Maria Nuove to the left)

The papal legate Girardo di Puy, the Abbot of Monmaggiore commissioned Matteo Gattapone to build this fortress in 1373.  This necessitated the demolition of a stretch of the Etruscan wall and probably an ancient gate known as the Porta Sole. 

This huge fortress enclosed a number of residences, including that of the papal legate.  The terrace of what is now Piazza Rossi Scotti (illustrated above), which was built on the Etruscan walls, supported its northern end.  Similar terracing survives in Piazza Piccinino, to the east (illustrated here). 

The present Via Bartolo (to the west - see Walk V) and Piazza Danti (to the south - see Walk I) were laid out in their current forms  in 1389 when the moat in front of the main entrance was filled in.

• A fortified corridor connected the citadel to the Palazzo dei Priori (which Monmaggiore had commandeered), necessitating the demolition of part of the Duomo that was then in construction and of its ancient campanile. 

• A second fortified corridor linked it to the fortress at Porta Sant’ Antonio (see Walk VI), while a third was planned to link it to the fortress at Porta di Sant’ Angelo (see Walk V).

These structures were demolished in 1376 when the Perugians revolted and expelled Monmaggiore from the city.  The residences in the main citadel survived until 1463, when they were destroyed by fire.

Return to Walk II.