At the end of Via delle Medaglie d'Oro stands Porta Molino , the northern entrance to the city along the Roman Via Julia Augusta. Its name derives from the mill built in the 12th century near the walls, soon incorporated into the city walls to ensure supplies even in the event of disaster.
The building, now with a 19th-century appearance, likely belonged to the hospital located outside the city, serving as a hospice for pilgrims. It later became municipal property and, in the 14th and 15th centuries, to the powerful Cepolla family, who owned houses and towers adjacent to the gate. In the 16th century, it passed to the Costa family and then to the Del Carretto family, who sold it in the 19th century. The mill was powered by the beudum , a canal that ran along the northern walls to the sea, still existing under Via Genova and Via dei Mille, as do the walls themselves, now incorporated into a single building.
Beyond the gate, upstream, a section of the river pebble wall remains up to the crenellated cornice, behind which ran the battlement- protected walkway that allowed soldiers to move around and defend the city. Other sections of the wall are visible, especially to the west, with the battlement still accessible, and to the south, toward the river, often incorporated into houses. The road behind the walls, which follows the ancient intervallum of the Roman city, still retains the name of Barbacana on the side facing the river.
From Porta Molino, continuing south, you can retrace the city walls and discover the city's ancient defensive towers, witnesses to centuries of urban history.
Next stop
Ready for the next stage?
Use the map to navigate to the next point: "The Civilization of Oil" Museum
Click on the “Go to the next stage” button, which you will find at the bottom of the page, to access the relevant content.