Porta Nova (New Gate), Salerno

The New Gate emerged in 1754 under the skilled craftsmanship of master Ragozzino. This imposing gate replaced the former Porta Elina, exhibiting an elegant eighteenth-century style adorned with marble and crowned by the magnificent statue of San Matteo. The sculptor Francesco Pagano contributed to the gate's artistic finesse, completing the statue in 1756.

The square opposite the New Gate, historically significant, hosted the renowned San Matteo Fair during the Middle Ages and modern era. This fair was a prestigious gathering, drawing merchants from across Southern Italy to showcase and trade a diverse array of goods. The square, once a bustling marketplace, also served as the site for capital sentences in times past.

On the right side of Portanova Square, a vivid reminder of the area's historical gravity persists in the form of a late seventeenth-century wall painting known as the Madonna delle Grazie. This votive aedicule once provided a poignant backdrop as the condemned offered their final prayers. Across from this memorial stands the church of San Pietro in Vinculis, historically affiliated with the brotherhood of the same name, offering solace and aid to prisoners.