Iron Gate

The Iron Gate is the western entrance to Diocletian’s Palace, identifiable by its narrow, rectangular frame topped by a small, repurposed Christian bell tower. While the other three palace gates served different ranks or purposes, this entrance originally housed the guard who controlled access to the emperor's residence. A young guard named Teodor famously dismantled the gate's pagan statues during the eleventh century, replacing them with a bell tower for the tiny church of Our Lady of the Bell Tower, which remains tucked into the archway today.