Gate of Saint Blaise is one of the three entrance gates to the old town of Lecce, located in the southern part of the city walls. It was built in 1773 and is dedicated to St. Biagio (Blaise), a bishop from Lecce who was martyred in Armenia. His figure was placed on the top of the neoclassical gate above the columns and tympanum.
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.