Porta Rudiae (Rudiae Gate), Lecce

Rudiae Gate, is the oldest and most historically significant of the three city gates. It originally faced the ancient city of Rudiae, the birthplace of the poets Ennio and Virgilio. The current structure dates back to 1703 when it was rebuilt by the nobleman Prospero Lubelli after the earlier Gothic gate collapsed in the late 17th century.

The gate features a single arch flanked by pairs of columns resting on a podium, supporting a decorative frieze adorned with busts of Lecce’s mythical founders: Malennio, Dauno, Euippa, and Idomeneo.

Above the arch stand statues of Saint Oronzo, Lecce’s patron saint, along with other protectors Irene and San Domenico. A Latin inscription commemorates the gate’s reconstruction under Lubelli’s patronage.

Historically, Porta Rudiae served both defensive and commercial purposes, guarding the city and regulating trade from surrounding areas.

Today, it remains a symbolic entrance to Lecce’s baroque old town, hosting cultural and religious events that celebrate the city’s rich heritage and maintain its connection to longstanding traditions.