Like all medieval villages surrounded by defensive walls, in addition to the alleys, the narrow stairways, the squares, the churches and the low houses one close to the other, Capocastello had five access gates. The two images refer to the lower door of the village, called “Porta dei Santi”, as it depicts in the upper part the three Patrons, the Saints Modestino, Fiorentino and Flaviano. As the image shows, the state of conservation of the mural is very bad.
In the upper part of Capocastello, as the crow flies, not far from the castle of Mercogliano, is the “Porta dell’Acqua”. It is assumed to have been built in 1199, given that information about the Water Gate has been reported in a written document of the time. It is so called because in its immediate vicinity there is the “Acqua del pero” spring and some city fountains. The water source also operated a mill. Even today the Porta dell’Acqua is in excellent condition. There is no trace of the remaining three gates, Porta del Capo, Porta Mazzocca and Porta Girone.
