The Majeure Door

The Porta Maggiore (the Majeure Door) in Toffia was built in the late fifteenth century, in a phase of expansion of the town and its perimetral walls. Porta Maggiore was the main gateway to Toffia castle, and was formerly a drawbridge: the holes where supporting chains passed are still visible, as well as subsequent hinges hung with (until a few years ago) shreds of the old door.

Outside, on the right at the top, the Toffia embleme is carved: the Church – Castle with two lateral towers reshaping the imperial Abbey Farfa, very linked to the Toffia population for most of its old history .

On the interior of the door, formed in the thickness of the walls, we can easily recognize spaces used by on – access watchers to the country. One them is still called by local elders la casermetta (the barracks). Portion of an ancient fresco are not clearly visible on the wall, on the right side of the entrance.

Entering from the inner side of Porta Maggiore, we find the Sala del Corpo di Guardia (the guard-room), once a strategic and loopholes overlooking over the outer entrance, and currently hosting the Municipal Historical Archives.