The Royal Gate (Porta Reale) was a very important part of the western walls of the Old Town. It was built in 1576-1578 and was the main entrance to the walled city from the interior of the island. The top of the gate was decorated with the lion of St Mark of Venice. Unfortunately, the Royal Gate was demolished in 1893 by the then municipal authority on the grounds that open space had to be created at that spot in order to unite the old town with the new town, which was already developing outside the city walls. The name is still used today.