Situated at the heart of Milan, Porta Venezia stands as a piece of the city's historic past. Formerly known as Porta Orientale (Eastern Gate), the name Porta Venezia (Venice Gate) was formally given in 1862. While the gate's location corresponds to the Roman walls of Milan, its current form dates to the 19th century. In the 16th century, as the medieval walls were replaced by Spanish walls, the gate was moved farther from the city centre. It was used to connect Milan to eastern Brianza and Bergamo and later served as a customs tax station.
The district surrounding the gate has been recognized as a distinct rione since the 12th century. Today, the Porta Venezia area is known as an LGBT-friendly district, with Via Lecco and its surroundings featuring LGBT-themed bars and restaurants. In 2019, the Porta Venezia metro station became Italy's first LGBT-dedicated urban transport stop. This followed a 2018 Milano Pride advertisement campaign by Netflix Italia, resulting in the indefinite keeping of rainbow-colored wallpaper at the station.
The gate consists of two twin neoclassical buildings made of Viggiù sandstone that once housed customs offices. These buildings feature doric porticos and statues of Roman deities, such as Minerva, Ceres, and Mercury. The area is home to several landmarks, including the Gardens of Porta Venezia, which houses the Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium. The district is served by a minor railway station and several stops of the Milan Metro Line 1.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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