Porta San Giacomo was built in 1592 as a gateway to the city of Bergamo on the road from Milan, part of the city walls commissioned by the Republic of Venice in 1561, when the Milanese area passed to the crown of Spain following the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559).
The massive structure of white marble from the Zandobbio quarries (Val Cavallina), was designed to resemble a church façade and has two levels: at the bottom, three openings are punctuated by eight Doric columns, while at the top, two obelisks flank a pediment that frames the relief of the Lion of Saint Mark, marking the Venetian dominion.
Like the other three city gates (dedicated to Saints Lawrence, Augustine, and Alexander), Porta San Giacomo was equipped with a drawbridge that closed access in times of danger until the late 18th century. The drawbridges were demolished then at the behest of Venetian governor, Alvise Contarini, who replaced them with the stone bridges standing today.
The gate level offers a panorama over Venetian fortifications on one side and, on the other, the Lower City and the plain with the Apennines on the horizon.
Highly visible from viale Vittorio Emanuele (the North-South axis crossing Lower Bergamo), due to its location and the brightness of its white facade against the grey walls, the gate is a perfect backdrop for light displays during anniversaries and celebrations.
Fondazione Lombardia Film Commission
Via Bergamo, 7 – 20032 Cormano (MI)
Phone: +39 02 89410090
Fax: +39 02 89422766
Email: filmcom@filmcomlombardia.it
