Venetian Gates ---

With the exception of that of S. Agostino, the gates that open in the perimeter of the Venetian Walls take their names from nearby churches demolished to make room for the imposing fortification. On all the gates stood the lion of San Marco, symbol of the Republic of Venice, and from each departed an important connecting road to nearby cities: from Porta S. Alessandro the road connected Bergamo with Lecco and Como, from Porta S. Lorenzo it headed towards the countries beyond the Alps, from Porta S. Agostino one could depart towards Venice, and from Porta S. Giacomo one went to Milan. This last gate is actually the most monumental and elegant: with its white marble cladding it was visible from the fairgrounds (today Centro Piacentiniano).