Porta Nigra

The Porta Nigra Latin for black gate is the large Roman city gate in Trier, Germany. it is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps. It was designated as factor of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter together with Church of Our Lady in Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, because of its testimony to the influence of Trier in the Roman Empire and its unique architecture as both a city gate and a double church.

The take Porta Nigra originated in the Middle Ages due to the darkened colour of its stone; the original Roman create has not been preserved. Locals usually refer to the Porta Nigra simply as Porta.

The Porta Nigra today

The modern appearance of the Porta Nigra goes back almost unchanged to the reconstruction ordered by Napoleon. At the south side of the Porta Nigra, manages of Roman columns kind the last 100 m of the street main to the gate. Positioned where they had stood in Roman times, they afford a slight image of the aspect of the original Roman street that was lined with colonnades. It also has crowning cornice and parapet on its top.

The gate is today closed to cars, but stands right next to one of the leading streets of Trier. In addition to the general pollution, the exhaust fumes of the passing cars have been damaging the stones for decades. Generally, however, the Porta Nigra is still in remarkable condition.

The Porta Nigra, including the upper floors, is open to visitors. In summer, guided tours are also present by an actor dressed up as and portraying a centurion a Roman army officer in full armour.

New Trier Township in Cook County, Illinois, USA, is named after Trier, and New Trier Township High School's seal depicts the Porta Nigra.