Porta Elisa (Elisa's Gate), Lucca

Elisa's Gate (Porta Elisa) is the only eastward-facing gate in the Walls of Lucca, a relatively late addition built between 1809 and 1811 during the Napoleonic era. Unlike the city’s other gates, which were named after saints, this one was dedicated to Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister and the ruler of Lucca at the time. It was constructed to provide direct access to key destinations like Capannori, Villa Basilica, Pescia, and Florence, a necessity that had previously been avoided due to historical tensions with Florence.

Designed in Neoclassical style, the gate features three arches framed by Tuscan columns supporting a Doric entablature, creating an elegant yet restrained structure. Its white marble stands in stark contrast to the red brick of the surrounding walls, emphasizing its distinctiveness. From the interior, it was conceived as a triumphal arch, leading into the newly planned Via Elisa, which was meant to modernize the city's layout. However, plans to reshape the medieval quarters, including demolishing the Romanesque Porta San Gervasio, were halted after Napoleon’s downfall, leaving only a partial realization of the grand vision.

Today, Elisa's Gate remains a striking historical feature, symbolizing Lucca’s brief Napoleonic chapter and its architectural transition into the 19th century.