Porta del Popolo

The northern gate of Rome, built into the Aurelian Walls in 1561–65, marking the historic point where pilgrims and travellers along the Via Flaminia entered the city — for centuries, this was the first sight of Rome for visitors arriving from the north. Bernini was commissioned to redecorate the inner face of the gate in 1655 to welcome Queen Christina of Sweden, who had abdicated her throne to convert to Catholicism. The Latin inscription above commemorates her dramatic arrival.