Mura Aureliane
Discover Rome by Vespa: exclusive tours to the Aurelian Walls for a plunge into history, or choose a bike tour in Rome: the perfect way to discover the secrets of the ancient city but if you want to spend a relaxing day then explore Rome by tuk-tuk: visit the Aurelian Walls and the wonders of the Colle dei Cocci.
What you need to know about the Aurelian Wall
The Aurelian Walls are an impressive system of defensive walls built in ancient Rome to protect the city from outside invaders. Built between 270 and 275 AD during the reign of Emperor Aurelian, these walls surrounded the city with a perimeter of about 19 kilometers and reached a height of 8-10 meters. They were designed to defend a rapidly expanding inhabited area and to ensure the safety of the population. The walls had several gates (such as Porta San Sebastiano and Porta Maggiore) that allowed entry and exit from the city and featured watchtowers, battlements and other defensive structures to guard strategic points. Much of the Aurelian Walls can still be seen today, and it is possible to admire their remains as you walk around various parts of Rome, making them one of the most important examples of Roman military engineering. The Aurelian Walls were built in haste because of increasing external threats, particularly from the advance of the barbarians. To speed up the work, pre-existing buildings such as the Castrense Amphitheater and the Pyramid of Caius Cestius were also integrated into the walls, making them an integral part of the defenses. The original walls were built of opus latericium, a technique using terracotta bricks, and reinforced with cylindrical towers about every 30 meters. Initially 8 meters high, they were raised to about 16 meters by Honorius in the 5th century to improve defense. The defense system also included a walkway for soldiers and loopholes for archers. Some of the main gates of the walls, such as Porta San Sebastiano, Porta San Paolo and Porta Asinaria, are still visible today and in excellent condition. Porta Maggiore is a particularly interesting example, as it incorporates ancient arches of the Claudian aqueduct. Over the centuries, the Aurelian Walls have undergone many modifications, both to adapt to changes in the city and to repair damage sustained during invasions. During the Middle Ages, they were reinforced to protect the city from the Sacks of Rome, and even until World War II they were used as defense posts.
Curiosities
Integration of existing buildings: The walls were built using several buildings already present along their route. This includes structures such as the Pyramid of Caius Cestius and the Castrensian Amphitheater, which were converted into part of the walls to save time and resources.
Defenses reused over the centuries: During medieval times, the Aurelian Walls were reinforced to defend Rome from frequent barbarian raids and even sacks. For example, in 410 A.D., Alaric’s Visigoths found the walls in good condition and were only able to enter the city through internal treachery.
Porta San Sebastiano and soldiers’ graffiti: In the tower of Porta San Sebastiano, one of the best preserved passages, graffiti left by soldiers who guarded the structure have been found. These marks represent direct evidence of Roman soldiers’ lives and experiences.
Anecdote of Pope Gregory I: It is said that Pope Gregory the Great, during a procession to invoke the end of a plague, saw the archangel Michael on Castel Sant’Angelo as he put his sword back in its scabbard, a sign that the plague was over. Although this vision does not relate directly to the walls, Castel Sant’Angelo was part of the defensive system integrated into the city walls.
Continued strategic function: During World War II, sections of the Aurelian Walls were used as strategic points by the Italian military to guard and defend Rome, demonstrating how these ancient fortifications maintained a defensive function for nearly 1,700 years.
Walkways still passable: It is possible to walk along some sections of the Aurelian Walls, particularly near Porta San Sebastiano. Here, the Museum of the Walls offers visitors a walk along the walkways, allowing them to observe Rome from a unique historical and panoramic viewpoint.
The origin of the name “Aurelian: Although they were named after Emperor Aurelian, who started them, the walls were not completed until after his death under Emperor Probus.