On the original Roman road that led to Pavia from Milan, what you see of Porta Ticinese today is only a part of the Neo-Classical design that was submitted by Luigi Cagnola. His ideas included bastions - since dismantled - and the square in the direction of the village of San Gottardo between vast buildings that were to house the local market and receiving office. These buildings were to lie on either side of the gateway and symmetrical to the road, thereby redefining the entire area.