Porta Malatesta in Camerino

History of Porta Malatesta in Camerino

The gate was built in the third decade of the 16th century by Giovanni Maria da Varano. It replaced a gate further uphill, when it was decided to extend the walls of Camerino as far as the Rocca dei Borgia, so as to bring the fortress into the city's defenses. The Rocca had been built by Cesare Borgia in 1503.

The current name is more recent: in the late 19th century the gate was named after Giovanna Malatesta, daughter of Sigismondo Pandolfo of Rimini and wife of Giulio Cesare da Varano.

What to see at Porta Malatesta

The monument stands out for its use of three materials: brick, limestone and sandstone. Two rusticated half-columns decorate it. Weathering, however, is rapidly crumbling the structure, so the gate is mainly appreciated for its architectural details and for the role it played in the 16th-century walls.

How to visit Porta Malatesta

The gate is outdoors, along the city walls. The historic center of Camerino was hit hard by the 2016 earthquake and reconstruction is still under way: ten years after the earthquake, building sites and cranes are part of the scenery in the narrow streets. Some areas were closed or fenced off for a long time. Before visiting, it is therefore worth finding out which areas are accessible.

Where Porta Malatesta is located

Camerino stands on a hill at 661 m, between the Chienti and Potenza valleys. To the south it is closed off by the massif of the Sibillini Mountains, to the north by Monte San Vicino. The gate belongs to the stretch of walls extended as far as the Rocca dei Borgia.

Around Porta Malatesta

The nearby Rocca dei Borgia, with cylindrical towers and a massive keep, is an example of early Renaissance military architecture. The Palazzo Ducale, with the Renaissance four-sided portico completed by Giulio Cesare da Varano, was declared unsafe after the earthquake.

To complete the tour of the fortifications there are Porta Caterina Cybo (Camerino) and Porta Boncompagni (Camerino). Other examples of town walls are on the page walls and gates of the Sibillini.