Puerta de Tierra Gateway

The City Council of Cádiz has opened the Torreón of the Puerta de Tierra and the upper walkway to the public, carrying out conditioning, patching, and rehabilitation work on spaces and certain historical elements. The works included improving the cobblestone paving, creating a safety perimeter, repairing the base of the skylights and their replacement, fixing the restrooms, and clearing the entire area. Additionally, 62 cast-iron mortar shells from the late 17th and early 19th centuries have been restored and are now exhibited in the central vault. The cannons and carriages have also been removed for restoration. These efforts have been completed with repairs and painting of grilles, fences, and benches, as well as a redesign of all signage within the premises. The central vault, the tower, and the upper avenue of Puerta de Tierra are elements of significant historical, cultural, and heritage value, which add to the numerous buildings and monuments that the city of Cádiz offers its visitors.

The current appearance of the Puerta de Tierra reflects various eras and phases of construction, beginning in the 16th century when the medieval walls became insufficient for the city’s growth. In their place, a new wall with an access gate was built, which remains visible today as part of the current defensive complex. In 1574, an initial expansion was undertaken to protect it with two bastions. The structure acquired its definitive appearance only in the 18th century.

At the center, the lower tower highlights the ensemble, with its entrance vestibule framed by a marble frontispiece, dated 1756. An inscription references the construction of the gate, which includes both the royal coat of arms and that of the city, followed by a military allegory. On the façade facing the historic center, an elegant marble portico was constructed in the form of a triumphal arch, a work by Torcuato Cayón. The walls of San Roque and Santa Elena, named for their proximity to their respective hermitages, extend on either side of the complex. These walls were demolished in 1737 to make room for a barracks within the defensive area.

The expansion beyond the walls led to proposals during the first half of the 20th century to demolish the entire structure. Fortunately, it was decided instead to cover the moats and open two large arches in the walls to allow vehicle passage. In the central square, two marble obelisks dedicated to San Servando and San Germán, the patron saints of Cádiz, were placed. These obelisks, crafted in Genoa in the early 17th century, originally presided over the entrance to the city’s port.