Puerta de Triana facts for kids
The Puerta de Triana was a famous gate in Seville, Spain. It was part of the old city walls. This gate was built in the same spot where an older gate from the Almohad period once stood. The Almohad gate was taken down to build the new Puerta de Triana in 1588.
The gate was located where three streets met: Gravina, Reyes Católicos, and Zaragoza. It was special because it was the only gate in Seville with three arches. This is why it was sometimes called "Puerta de Trina" (meaning "of three"). This name quickly changed to Triana because it was the main way to get to the Triana neighborhood across the old bridge. Many people thought it was one of the most beautiful and tall gates in Seville.
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What the Puerta de Triana Looked Like
This gate was built in the Doric order style. Even though we don't know for sure who designed it, some experts believe it was the architect Juan de Herrera. He also designed the building that is now the General Archive of the Indies.
The gate had two tall and elegant sides. Many people thought it was the most artistic city gate in Seville. In the middle, there was a large arch shaped like a half-circle. On each side of the arch, there were pairs of columns with grooves. These columns held up a large ledge that had a balcony on top. The very top of the gate was shaped like a triangle. It was decorated with statues and six small pyramids.
Below the balcony, there was a stone with a message carved into it. It said that King Philip II of Spain ordered the gate to be built in 1588. It also mentioned that the city leaders of Seville helped with the project.
Between the two sides of the gate, there was a large room called "El Castillo" (The Castle). This room was used as a prison for important prisoners, like nobles. The Torre del Oro was used for a similar purpose a long time ago.
Why the Gate Was Torn Down
The Puerta de Triana was torn down because the city of Seville was growing. New projects were happening, like building the Station of Córdoba and the Puente de Isabel II bridge. The city needed more space, and instead of building over the walls, they decided to take them down.
A visit by Queen Isabel II of Spain to Seville in 1868 was the final reason for its demolition. At that time, a new government was in power. They wanted to remove anything that reminded people of the old monarchy. The Puerta de Triana was seen as a symbol of the monarchy. Many smart people in the city tried to save it. However, on September 21, 1868, the order to demolish it was signed. The gate was completely taken down in less than 40 days.
What Happened to the Remains
Today, if you look closely at the street where the gate once stood, you can see slight changes in the color of the pavement. This shows where the gate and its arch used to be.
The pieces of the gate were used in two different ways. Some parts were used as the foundation for a house at 24 San Eloy Street. This house belonged to the person who was hired to tear down the gate. Other parts were sold to a company called "Aguas de Jerez." This company also bought many fountains and cobblestones that were removed from Seville around that time.
Some of these stones were later used by the same company to build a water tank for the Zoo of Jerez de la Frontera. Even today, some of these stones are displayed at the zoo.
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