Palaces & Monuments
Porta di San Lorenzo a Serre di Rapolano
RAPOLANO TERME
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Outside the church of Saint Catherine, after going down the stairs, there is the gate of Saint Laurence, called like this because the way which comes out, led to the church of Saint Lawrence Extra Moenia. Today, it is called “Gate of the Apparita” because from the square before, you can enjoy the wonderful view of Crete Senesi, with the city of Siena on the horizon. The cypresses which are on the right of those who are observing the line of the horizon, shows the position of the ancient parishof Saint Laurence, at the homonymous farm, pulled down after the second World War because it was likely to fall. The gate and the vestibule are original and the plan and the material are the same of those of the Gate of Saint Andrew. Outside the circle of walls, in the level ground which goes from the Gate of Saint Lawrence to the Gate of Saint Andrew , there was in ancient times a ditch full of water and the lane was called “Via Urli Fovei”. The ditch, become useless with the passing of time, was laid underground: upon it, a 3 metres high wall was erected and the space between this and the “rivellino” was filled up with some fertile land.
Outside the church of Saint Catherine, after going down the stairs, there is the gate of Saint Laurence, called like this because the way which comes out, led to the church of Saint Lawrence Extra Moenia. Today, it is called “Gate of the Apparita” because from the square before, you can enjoy the wonderful view of Crete Senesi, with the city of Siena on the horizon. The cypresses which are on the right of those who are observing the line of the horizon, shows the position of the ancient parishof Saint Laurence, at the homonymous farm, pulled down after the second World War because it was likely to fall. The gate and the vestibule are original and the plan and the material are the same of those of the Gate of Saint Andrew. Outside the circle of walls, in the level ground which goes from the Gate of Saint Lawrence to the Gate of Saint Andrew , there was in ancient times a ditch full of water and the lane was called “Via Urli Fovei”. The ditch, become useless with the passing of time, was laid underground: upon it, a 3 metres high wall was erected and the space between this and the “rivellino” was filled up with some fertile land.