For centuries the Porta Nigra had various functions. The gates between the two towers were filled with soil. The street outside the city obliquely rises to the 1st floor, where took place the lower church for simple people. On the 2nd floor, closer to the sky, you'll see the cloister's church. Despite all this, people called the Porta Nigra devil's construction, because it was built without cement or mortar (which was usual for the Romans).
You'll be surprised, but the gates are still in good condition, and all this happens in spite of the fact that almost all the iron-cramp anchors and liquid tin the Roman used to keep together the stones, was stolen. In 1804 by the order of Napoleon all the religious constructions were taken away from the Porta Nigra. The old gates got back their magnificence, original look and previous size: 36 m wide, 30 m tall and 21 m deep. In 1876 the passageway to the gates was dozed and as a result the ancient Roman Street was found. Nowadays the Porta Nigra is opened for visitors.
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