Situated in Centelles, Osona, the Portal de Centelles is a national cultural heritage site. Constructed as part of the city walls in the 16th century, this ancient gateway features a semi-circular arch with dovetail stones. Above the arch is the escut d'armes dels Centelles, and the structure also preserves four merlets and two crossbow loopholes.
On the other side of the portal, the architecture shifts from defensive elements to ornamental features. These include a molded window, a petit escut, and a large, vaulted arch with a lowered vault.
The walls of Centelles were built during a major demographic and urban expansion in the 16th century. While the old sagrera of Santa Coloma had walls since 1329, the town underwent a total transformation between 1537 and 1565 under Guillem Ramon II, baron of Centelles and count of Quirra. It was during this period that the new walls, including the Portal, were built. In 1919, the portal was restored by the architect Jeroni Martorell i Terrats.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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