It represents the water-side entrance into what was formerly known as Via Cassaro, the most ancient main street of the city, but renamed Via Vittorio Emanuele after Italian unification.

[1] The Viceroy of Sicily Marcantonio Colonna decided to build a monumental gate in the new water-side entrance of the Cassaro (the same thing was done on the opposite side with Porta Nuova).

[1] The gate was named after the wife of Colonna, Felice Orsini.

[2] In 1602 the new Viceroy Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, Duke of Feria, decided to resume the work.

At the top of the pillar are eagles with the coat of arms of the viceroy Colonna.