10/11/2025
Today, Francavilla has three gateways to the historic part of the town. Large stone arches built between 1630 and the middle of the 18th century.
Porta del Carmine, was built between 1630 and 1656 for the Imperiali family. Here the tax collectors controlled all goods and applied duties, and guards controlled who came in and out. Over the years it has seen death and celebrations. On the 27th March 1740, Michele IV Imperiali with his bride Eleonora Borghese made their grand entrance into the city through this gateway and in recent years many festivities have been held in Via Roma.
Porta della Croce, was built by Davide de Quarto and Giosuè Pozzerrese in 1714, during the time of Michele Imperiali III. It looks south towards the Church of Maria Santissima della Croce and towards Oria.
Porta dei Cappuccini, was built around the middle of the 18th century. It faces towards Villa Castelli.
However, in Francavilla Fontana’s long history there used to be city walls which needed many entrances. As the city grew, new walls and gateways were built and others demolished. The last two to be removed, but remembered by a few, were Porta Paludi on Via Simeana by Via Carlo Pisacane, (removed in 1925), and "Porta Pazzano" on Via San Vito near Via Raffaele Caroli (Demolished in 1952).
