Eastern Gate, for the privileged position that covered being turned towards Vienna and Austria, it was the first among the city gates for which in late eighteenth century it was thought and worked a monumental remake . The architect was the architect of the Scala Giuseppe Piermarini, the protagonist until his death (in 1808) of urban and architectural renewal of the city and he began work on the new complex in the neoclassical style in 1787.

With the coming of Napoleon in Italy, definitely changed the conception of the city gate, no longer defensive structure or simple headquarters of the custom, but true monument able to embellish and enhance the prestige of the city. The remake of the key monumental city gates underwent therefore an incentive. In 1806 at the entrance to Milan Viceroy Eugene de Beauharnais, a triumphal arch was commissioned provisional: the arch, one passage, was inspired by that of Titus in Rome, was crowned by a quadriga between statues of winged Victories and was preceded by a staircase flanked by obelisks. This realization would have to then be translated into marble, in its permanent shape; However, the project never got implemented.

The current complex which is today Porta Venezia was built between 1827 and 1828 by architect Rodolfo Vantini, following a competition held in 1826 (attended by 32 competitors). In 1833 came the statues and reliefs that gave the work its final appearance. In 1860 it was renamed Porta Venezia,  the name of the city remained Austrian after '"unfinished" second war of independence (1859).