Porta Romana

Porta Romana stands at the southernmost point of Florence's historic city walls, marking the ancient boundary between the city and the road that once led travellers south towards Rome. The gate is the largest of Florence's surviving medieval portals, its massive stone arch and fortified tower a reminder of the defensive ambitions of the medieval commune. For centuries, pilgrims, merchants, and diplomats passed beneath it on the Via Cassia, and the surrounding Oltrarno quarter retains much of the quiet, residential character that distinguishes it from the more heavily visited centre.

Today, Porta Romana serves as a landmark departure point for excursions into the Tuscan countryside. Among the experiences currently available here is a semi-private tour into the Chianti hills, taking in olive groves and vineyards with a lunch of gourmet pairings. The gate sits at the edge of the Boboli Gardens and close to the Bardini Garden, placing it within a part of Florence where historic architecture and open landscape meet in a way that is particular to this corner of the city.