Portone del Melograno
A wrought-iron entrance door in Turin’s San Salvario district, celebrated for its Art Nouveau design featuring intricate pomegranate and peacock motifs.
At a glance
The Portone del Melograno, or Pomegranate Gate, is an ornamental entrance door located on Via Argentero in the San Salvario neighborhood. The structure displays characteristics reminiscent of Spanish architecture, notably through the use of colored majolica and iron elements supporting balconies. Local residents have given the building its evocative nickname based on the imagery carved into its magnificent entrance.
History
Pietro Fenoglio designed this distinctive doorway in 1907, during the height of the Art Nouveau movement in Turin. The architect’s work reflects the broader European Liberty style that flourished in the early twentieth century, adapting it to Turin’s architectural context.
What you see
The entrance door is entirely wrought iron, its surface alive with botanical imagery. Two pomegranate trees with verdant foliage and ruby fruits emerge from a peacock-tailed frame rendered in flowing floral style—hallmarks of Art Nouveau decoration. The craftsmanship of the metalwork and the precision of the carved details exemplify the period’s marriage of function and artistic expression.
Cultural significance
The Portone del Melograno stands as a notable example of Turin’s Liberty heritage. Fenoglio’s design demonstrates how Art Nouveau principles could be applied to a single architectural element—an entrance door—transforming it into a work of independent artistic merit while remaining integral to the building’s identity.
Key facts
- Address: Via Giovanni Argentero, 4, 10126 Turin
- Designer: Pietro Fenoglio
- Year: 1907
- Coordinates: 45.050902, 7.6733286
- Website: https://www.guidatorino.com/il-portone-del-melograno-un-angolo-nascosto-di-liberty-a-torino/
Practical information
The doorway is best appreciated from the street. Hours of access are not listed; check the official website or contact local Turin tourism for details on viewing arrangements.
Getting there
The Portone del Melograno is located in the San Salvario district near Via Nizza. You can reach Via Argentero on foot or by public transport; consult Turin’s transport authority for current routes to the neighborhood.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →📷 Diventa un fotografo di Cultural Heritage Online
Condividi le tue foto dei luoghi: restano pubblicate con la tua firma come autore. Più vengono viste, più ti fai conoscere — e presto un concorso premierà le foto più apprezzate.
Accedi o registrati gratis per aggiungere una foto