The outer gate, a Renaissance arch in a round tower, dates from 1537. Above it, in a niche, stands a statue of St Blaise (Sveti Vlaho), the city's patron saint. A stone bridge and a wooden drawbridge lead to it across the old moat; in the days of the Republic of Ragusa the drawbridge was raised every night. The inner Gothic gate is older, from the 15th century.
Passing through, you step straight onto the top of the Stradun, the Old Town's main street, with Onofrio's Fountain and the Franciscan Monastery right in front of you.
Buses and taxis stop just outside the gate, and one of the main entrances to the city walls walk is a few steps inside, so Pile is the natural starting point for a walk through Dubrovnik.
