I Portoni della Bra, Verona

The Portoni della Bra is an entryway situated alongside the Verona city walls, originally built to connect the city with what was then the outskirts of the countryside.

In a historical document from 1257, the existence of a Braida gate is first documented. This gate was situated in the same area where the current Portoni della Bra now stands. It featured a small secondary door (known as a "pusterla") on one side and opened up along the town walls, outside of which flowed the Adigetto River. During the period of Visconti rule in Verona (1389-1402), a covered passage was established, beginning at Castelvecchio and extending to connect with the fortified citadel. This passage traversed the road that led out of the city, passing through the arch.

The Portoni della Bra consists of two arches with rounded tops, adorned with battlements that resemble dovetails at the apex. In the space between these arches, a clock was installed in the year 1872. The construction materials employed include Veronese marble for the lower section and brick for the upper part, corresponding to both the covered walkway and the battlement features. Positioned to the right of the gateway is the Pentagona tower, a crenellated defensive tower dating back to the municipal era.