It was the ancient Porta Flaminia of the Aurelian' wall, and the place where the Via Flaminia enters the city, the consular road was built in 220 EC to link Rome to the Adriatic Sea the original layout has been changed Bernini, folowing the wish of Alessandro VII, to honour the arrival of Cristina di Svezia realized the prospect that opens into Piazza del Popolo. The two side ledges were opened in 1879, when the two defense towers were demolished.