060608


Porta Magica

Typology: Buildings

Address

Address: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
Zone: Rione Esquilino (Termini-Via Nazionale) (Roma centro)

Contacts

Telephone booking: 060608 tutti i giorni ore 9.00-19.00

Opening times

Admission to the monument is allowed to groups and associations, with their own guide, who must make a reservation at 060608 (daily, 9.00 - 19.00).
Maximum 25 people per visit.

For individual visitors, who must also make a reservation at 060608, individual visits are also possible according to a schedule specified on the page >
 Monumenti del territorio

Disabled people Access - services available:
partially accessible entrance - no lift
partially accessible toilet - only in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

Information

Regular Tickets:  
Adults: € 4,00;
Concessions: € 3,00.
Tickets are paid for in cash on the spot.
MIC card holders are entitled to free admission

On the first Sunday of the month, admission to monuments in the area is free for all.

Please note: The entrance fee does not include the guided tour, which must be organised independently.

Description

The Porta Magica (Magic Gate), also known as the Porta Alchemica (Alchemic Gate), is a monument built between 1655 and 1680 by Massimiliano Palombara, Marquis of Pietraforte (1614-1680) in his residence, Villa Palombara, which stood on the Esquiline Hill in a position almost corresponding to today's Piazza Vittorio, where it is now located. Unfortunately Villa Palombara was completely demolished in the second half of the 19th century, when the new district was built.

The Porta Alchemica is the only surviving gate of the five gates of Villa Palombara. During the 20th century it was moved slightly from its original position, and placed behind the imposing ruins of the nymphaeum, enclosed with a metal gate.
It consists of a small doorway, now walled up, surrounded by a white stone jamb covered with alchemical symbols, and flanked by two statues, not belonging to Villa Palombara but coming from the Quirinal Hill and placed here during the opening works of Piazza Vittorio in 1888, representing the god Bes.

All'interno di

Culture and leisure › Cultural heritage › Archaeological heritage

See also

Culture and leisure › Cultural heritage › Architectural and historical heritage
Culture and leisure › Cultural heritage › Archaeological heritage
Last checked: 2023-08-02 8:36
©2007 - Roma Classic version