Porta Palio was built between 1550 and 1561 under the direction of architect and engineer Michele Sanmicheli, who however never saw the completed work due to his death in 1559. Sanmicheli also made the Porta Nuova and Porta San Zeno, examples of Renaissance architecture in the city.
The effort was to combine the war demands with a strong architecture research. The sense of power is transmitted by the Doric style while the Roman greatness is recalled by the classical decorative and constituent elements.
The new gate was built in place of the medieval Porta del Palio, called by the Veronese "stupa", which opened only at the Palio del Drappo Verde (prize of green cloth), an event in which two rounds of speed were held: the horses prize and the runners prize. The winner of the runners was delivered a green cloth prize of 12 meters.
The facades of the door are different from each other. The one facing the town is more sober, while the other, facing outward, is lavish and elaborate and welcomes those coming from out of town. It directs them to the heart of "classicism" of Verona, through a straight path, which traces the Roman Via Postumia.

You can find in succession the Gavi Arch, the Porta Borsari and finally the Piazza delle Erbe, the area of the Roman forum.