Porta San Frediano, Florence

The Porta San Frediano was the westernmost gate in the 13th-century walls of the Oltrarno section of Florence, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is located where Borgo San Frediano becomes Via Pisana. This was the access gate to the road to Pisa.

Porta San Frediano, external façade

History

This ancient gate is attributed to the architect Andrea Pisano, and is named after the nearby church of San Frediano, which was rebuilt as the church of San Frediano in Cestello. The gate was finished in 1332. In 1363 the Blessed Paola of the Monastery of the Angioli had a vision of St John the Baptist blessing Florence. This vision was interpreted as a premonition that the Florentines would defeat the Pisan army at the Battle of Cascina.[1]

Through this gate, King Charles VIII of France entered Florence.[2] A depiction of the gate circa 1494 can be seen in a painting by Filippino Lippi: a Madonna and Child with St John among Sts Martin of Tours and Catherine of Alexandria found in the Nerli Chapel of the church of Santo Spirito, Florence.[3] The gate still has its large wood and metal doors.

References
  1. Leggende di alcuni santi e beati venerati in S. Maria degli angeli de Firenze, Parte Seconda, Presso Gaetano Romagnoli, Bologna, 1864, pages 98-99.
  2. Saunterings in Florence: a new artistic and practical hand-book, by Elvira Grifi, Publishers:Bemporad and Sons, Florence, 1899, page 393.
  3. La città medievale, by Jacques Le Goff, page 25.
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