Porta Galliera (Galliera Gate), Bologna

Constructed above a Roman thoroughfare, Via Galliera once stood as Bologna's grandest avenue, adorned with elegant arcades and flanked by stately palaces spanning from the 15th to the 18th century. Characterized by terracotta hues, many of the porticoes along this historic street are crafted from recycled Roman and medieval bricks, embellished with intricate decorative motifs in baked clay.

Stretching northward, Via Galliera culminates at the striking Porta Galliera, a gateway that has endured multiple reconstructions, having been demolished and rebuilt five times between 1330 and 1511. Among the various gates delineating Bologna's ancient boundaries and the remnants of its original walls, which have since been dismantled, Galliera reigns as the most opulent and elaborate. Initially integrated into the medieval fortifications safeguarding the city, its current iteration, dating back to the 1660s, showcases a grand Baroque style, commanding attention within Piazza XX Septembrie.