The Gate Aptly Named

The Arco del Portillo (Córdoba) is a remnant of Córdoba's history, built in the late 14th century and located on San Fernando street, near the church of San Francisco. It separates the Cathedral and San Francisco-Ribera neighborhoods, and was initially adjoined to a house owned by Fernando Sánchez Torquemada, but was reconstructed in 1703 to accommodate carriages. Originally named Arco de San Francisco or the Merchants' Gate, the gate also bears the name Arco del Corbache, which is thought to refer to the place where piglets were sold.

Arco del Portillo was declared a Spanish cultural heritage monument in 1931. A hanging lantern was added to Arco del Portillo in 1923, and a concrete pin was installed in 1948 to prevent its collapse. A house adjacent to Arco del Portillo collapsed in 2013, necessitating restoration work completed in 2020. In 2023, researchers discovered the remains of a Roman-era circular tower adjacent to Arco del Portillo, making it the only surviving city gate between Medina and Axerquía in Córdoba.

Today, it remains the only standing city gate between the Medina and Axerquía regions in Córdoba. Although sometimes referred to as Arco del Corbache, the name's origins are unclear. It is whispered that it may refer to the place where piglets were sold.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons