MUDA GATE

Of the twelve former gates in the town wall, only the Porta della Muda, also known as Porta del Ponte Piccolo, has survived to the present day. There used to be a bridge in front of the gate , connecting Koper to the mainland when it was still an island. On the bridge, the Venetians built a fortress known as the Lion’s Castle (Castello Leone), which also served as a “mitnica”—a building for collecting transport taxes levied on goods entering or leaving the town. The castle was used for the defense of the town, rebuilt in 1620, and later demolished by the Austrian army in 1820. The preserved relief of the Lion of St. Mark, which once adorned the fortress, was relocated in 1924 to the Totto ex Gavardo Palace on Kidrič Street.

The name of the gate comes from the old Italian word for “mitnina” (a tax that had to be paid to enter the town). The gate mimics an ancient triumphal arch, and its form and symbolism reflect the distinctly Renaissance character of the period. The Muda Gate was built in 1516 by the podesta Sebastiano Contarini and is attributed to the master stonemason Marino de Vedelo. The remnant of the wall, which connects perpendicularly to the Muda Gate on the west side, also dates back to the 16th century and reveals the construction techniques and structure of the original fortifications.
The gate is also distinguished by numerous stonework details. The heraldic decoration of the gate features two lion heads on either side, symbolizing the Serenissima (Venice), and a relief of the sun. The reliefs are symbols of Venice and Koper.

You can also see remnants of the former walls by the gate, as well as an old washbasin on the side of the square. There is also a smaller auxiliary door, known as the “Posterla” or “Porta dei Soccorsi.” It was designed to relieve the pressure on the central gate when the protective function of the walls became less critical and traffic through the gate increased considerably.