Corso e Porta Borsari (Borsari Gate and Street), Verona

One of the most enduring features of Verona’s ancient defenses is its network of Roman gates, once used to control access and protect the city. These monumental structures marked the official transition into the Roman settlement and still stand today as powerful reminders of Verona’s imperial past.

Borsari Gate originated in the late 1st century BC, likely replacing an even earlier entrance on the same site. In the 1st century AD, it was given the impressive limestone façade that survives today—decorated with two levels of arch-framed windows and elegant Corinthian pilasters. Its current name derives from the Bursarii, soldiers or toll collectors who once collected fees on behalf of the bishop.

In its original form, it functioned as a small fortified complex, featuring two façades and an internal courtyard. The outer façade visible today—remodeled in 265 AD—is all that remains, as the courtyard and rear arch have been lost over time.

From here begins Borsari Gate Street. This urban stretch was part of the major Roman highway Via Postumia, helping to transform Verona into a thriving crossroads of trade and culture across northern Italy. Today, it remains one of the city’s most lively streets, its Roman layout still guiding modern life.