The Porta Romana Arch in Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro was commissioned in the 16th century by Philip III of Spain on the occasion of the entry into Milan of his betrothed, Princess Margaret of Austria-Styria.
Once inserted into the corresponding Spanish Walls, the Arch, now isolated, still symbolically represents, with its monumental structure, one of the main entrances to the city for those coming from the Via Emilia to the city center.
The original Roman Gate (later demolished), at the Roman city walls, stood instead in the area of today’s Piazza Missori, where the Via Aemilia ended with a columned section of about 600 meters that began at the Basilica Apostolorum (today Piazza S. Nazaro in Brolo).
Once past the ancient gate wayfarers and carriages could take the city decumanus, inside the walls, to the level of the cardo, today’s Via Torino.
