Postigo del Aceite facts for kids

The Postigo del Aceite (which means "Gate of the Oil") is a very old gate in the city of Seville, Andalusia, Spain. In Muslim times, it was known as bad al-Qatay. It is one of only three gates that still remain from the ancient Walls of Seville. The other two are the Puerta de la Macarena and the Puerta de Córdoba.

This historic gate is found in the old Puerto de Indias area, close to the Correos building in the Arenal neighborhood of Seville. It connects calle Dos de Mayo and calle Almirantazgo, and is near the Royal Dockyards of Seville.

History of the Postigo del Aceite

The Postigo del Aceite was first built in the year 1107, during the time of Ali ibn Yusuf. It was later repaired and updated in 1572 and 1573. This renovation was done by the architect Benvenuto Tortello, under the orders of Francisco Zapata y Cisneros, who was the mayor of Seville at that time.

Why it's called "Gate of the Oil"

This gate became very famous because it was the main entry point for oil coming into the city. That's how it got its name, "Gate of the Oil." In the 18th century, a small chapel was added next to the gate. It had a beautiful altarpiece with a statue of the Immaculate Conception.

Other names and uses

In the 12th century, the gate had a different purpose and was called bad al-Qatay, meaning "gate of Boats." This was because it was built near the Royal Dockyards of Seville, where ships were constructed. Over time, it was also known by other names, like "gate of the Granary" or "gate of the Olive," because these products also came into the city through this gate.

Inside the gate

On the inside of the Postigo, above the arch, you can see a stone carving of Saint Ferdinand. He is shown with two bishops, Isidore and Leander. Below this carving, there is a stone tablet that tells about the renovation done by Tortello. If you look inside the arch, you can still see the tracks where wooden planks were placed. These planks were used to stop the river from flooding the city.

Gates and Postigos

The entrances to the city walls were called either puertas (main gates) or postigos (smaller, non-main gates). The Postigo del Aceite is a postigo, which means it was not one of the city's main entrances. In Seville, this spot is also known as the arco del Postigo (Arch of the Postigo).

The Walls of Seville

Most of the city walls were taken down by the City Council of Seville in the 19th century. This happened because the city was growing and needed new buildings and streets. Today, only the Puerta de la Macarena and the Postigo del Aceite remain complete. Small parts of other gates, like the Puerta Real, the Puerta de Córdoba, and the Postigo del Carbón, are also preserved.

Because of its unique architecture and narrowness, the Postigo del Aceite is a very popular spot during Holy Week in Seville. Many people gather there to watch the religious processions pass through.

See also

In Spanish: Postigo del Aceite (Sevilla) para niños Walls of Seville

Images for kids

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  Image of Postigo del Aceite today.

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  Market next to the postigo in a work by Joaquín Turina in 1907 (Thyssen Museum of Málaga).