Porta Elisa

Eastern part of the town, Porta Elisa

Porta Elisa stands on the eastern side of the city walls between the Bulwarks of "Libertà" (of "Freedom") and "Salvatore". It was built between 1809 and 1811 by the sister of Napoleon, Elisa, from who the name of the gate originates. During her government in Lucca, Elisa always tried to change the appearance of the town. In 1806 she let Piazza Napoleone (also called Piazza Grande) to be built and two years later lowered the number of parishes, restored the old public palace and further more she ordered a gate to be built, which allowed people to cross the city from East to the West.

On the right side of Porta Elisa there is the Bulwark San Salvatore, built between 1590 and 1592 by Michelangelo Gabrielli, Paolo da Cremona and Giovanni Rosso according a plan of Ginese Bresciani. The bulwark rises not too far from the place, where an elliptic keep (called "Bastardo") was constructed about fifty years before. For this reason the city area, near the ancient fortification, was named after the keep. On both sides (of equal length) of the Bulwark of San Salvatore we can still see the rows of embrasures (two in the lower part and three in the upper one).

Porta Elisa (ordered by Elisa Baciocchi)

In the middle of the bastion, on top of which there is a marble scroll dated 1952, there is a little low and large guardhouse. On the left side of Porta Elisa there is the Bulwark of "Libertà", built in two different stages: the former from 1591 to 1596, and the latter from 1605 to 1606. The plan was worked out by Ginese Bresciani in the first stage and by Pietro Vagnarelli in the second one. The building was constructed by Michelangelo Gabrielli, Paolo da Cremona and Giovanni Rosso. Before Ginese Bresciani and Pietro Vagnarelli the works were supervised by Jacopo Seghizzi, who built in the 16th century a quadrangular bastion.
This was the first fortification, made in this area.
Unfortunately we can't see anymore the little guardhouse in the bulwark, but there are still the holes for the cannons in the fascia, facing Porta Elisa, the lower stronghold (which could be reached through a tunnel inside the town) and the upper one. On the opposite side there is only the lower stronghold, where the gunners were.