Porta Siberia is the only gate within the 16th century round of town walls that is still standing and owes its name to a mispronunciation of the original Porta Cibaria, so called because it was used as a storage place for the city’s food supply.
Designed by architect Galeazzo Alessi in the mid-16th century, Porta Siberia used to mark the boundary between the city’s military and business areas and the sea. Nowadays, this city gate marks the boundary between the Old Harbour, Porto Antico, and the populated Molo neighbourhood. Porta Siberia also houses the Museo Luzzati, celebrating multi-faceted Genoese artist Emanuele ‘Lele’ Luzzati, eclectic scene-designer, painter and genius of most forms of applied arts.
By the sea, not far from the Siberia Gate, stands the only remaining specimen of a fixed hydraulic crane. Built in 1888, this crane is an interesting archaeological heritage of industrial harbour machinery.