Portal de Santo Domingo: gateway to Monroyo's history

Gate-chapels are outstanding elements of the Matarraña region's architectural heritage and represent an interesting combination of defensive and religious functions. Originally, these gates were built into the town walls to allow entry and exit from the walled precinct. Later, a religious function was added with the construction of chapels on the upper floor of these gates.

Monroyo historically had four gates in its walls, but today only the Portal de Santo Domingo survives, the southernmost one in the old town. Of the other three gates, some remains of the Portal de la Iglesia and the Portal de San Roque can still be seen, although the Portal del Collado lives on only in oral memory and historical documents.

The current structure of the Portal de Santo Domingo dates from the mid-18th century, but its origins go back to the Middle Ages. The gate takes its name from a chapel dedicated to Santo Domingo on the upper floor. For many years this structure lay in ruins, possibly due to damage suffered during the War of the Spanish Succession in the 18th century or one of the Carlist Wars of the 19th century, during which the town was set on fire on several occasions within just over a hundred years. Finally, in 1993, the gate was restored and rebuilt, although the chapel on the upper floor was still awaiting restoration at that time.