One of the two gates of the city, the Gate of Victoria is headed towards Milan, once headquarter of the Spanish Government. It was built in 1562, during the first construction phase of the medieval walls. It has a sober and imposing appearance. A thin stringcourse divides the facade into two parts: in the lower one, there are four pilaster strips in rusticated ashlar, framing three arched openings, while in the upper part there is a wood upholstered lodge.
Above the main entrance can be noticed the quadripartite coat of arms, with Gonzaga and Colonna symbols, and the Latin epigraph VESPASIANUS SABLON. MARCH.ET.CONDITOR PORTAM HANC.BENEAUGURATUS VICTORIAM DIXIT“(Vespasiano Gonzaga, marquis and founder of Sabbioneta, dedicated this gate to the Victory as a good auspice). During the 16thcentury, the door allowed the entrance into the city through two drawbridges, one of which corresponds to the entrance on the right: the former existence of the bridge is now indicated by two tight fissures located above it. In 1585, the woodworker Nascinbene Borzana built the new bridge and corresponding “bridge beater” made of wood: this was a structure made of several spans erected in front of the door, towards which the two drawbridges were lowered. The contrast seen in the parameter between white marble and brick red recalls the Venetian architecture.

(Translation Ottavia Mapelli)