The statue, located on the top of the Gate, represents St. Paul and not St. Thomas as the folk customs report. The events, even if little known, are detailed: the Venetian
senate ordered Podestà of Treviso to dedicate the Gate to St. Thomas Becket (archbishop of Canterbury, born
in London in the first years of 12th century, died in 1170 and canonized by the Pope Alexander the Third after
some year), but Paolo Nani caused to raise a statue representing St. Paolo, his namesake, on the top of the
roofing. On the right: Porta San Tomaso - 1846 - Engraving by Antonio Nani. (Biblioteca Comunale di Treviso) |
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