The gate of the Venetian Walls looking west is called the gate of Sant’Alessandro and was the entrance to the city for those arriving from Lecco and Como.
Its name derives from the nearby basilica dedicated to the patron saint of Bergamo and razed to the ground during 1561, as recalled by a plaque placed next to the basilica’s only surviving column, to allow the construction of the Walls.
Passing through the gate, one still encounters the “Column of St. Alexander,” which marks the exact spot where the cathedral later demolished stood.
It is likely that, like the other four gates of the defensive walls, Porta Sant’Alessandro arose in correspondence with the openings already present in Roman times, oriented along the cardinal axes and repeatedly demolished and rebuilt during the medieval barbarian invasions.
Today this massive gateway is located in the area of Città Alta called Colle Aperto, an appellation born in the early 19th century when the area leading from Viale delle Mura to Porta Sant’Alessandro was leveled.
The esplanade offers an enchanting perspective on both the monumental part and the landscape.
Curiosities
Just like the other entrances to the city, this access in the past was also closed every night at 10 p.m. to ensure the safety of the city.