User:Alekjds/Gates of Rome



Since its foundation, the city of Rome has been encircled with walls. The Servian Wall of the early 4th century BC expanded upon the original pomerium of the Romulan city that defined the ancient Roma quadrata (ca. 8th century BC). Sixteen gates were built along the Servian Wall, although more were added later or are considered part of the circuit. Most of those gates are gone, as the remains of the Servian Wall are scant. The Aurelian Wall of the 270s AD included many gates, most of which are still standing today, some in very good condition. Later, fortifications were added on, notably by Pope Leo I, who encircled the so-called Leonine City with a defenses in the mid-9th century AD. Walls were also added on the Janiculum Hill in the 17th century by Pope Urban VIII; all of these walls required gates, which are listed below.

Gates of the Leonine Walls

 * Porta Angelica, demolished
 * Porta Castello, demolished.
 * Porta Cavalleggeri, formerly Porta Turrionis, walled up
 * Porta Fabbrica, formerly Porta Fornacum, walled up
 * Porta Pertusa, walled up
 * Porta San Pellegrino
 * Posterula Sancti Angeli, demolished
 * Porta Santo Spirito, l’antica posterula Saxonum

Gates of the Janiculum Walls

 * Porta Portese
 * Porta San Pancrazio, once part of the Aurelian Walls

Other gates
Although it does not constitute part of the walls of the city, the so-called Porta Alchemica is notable. It is now located in the gardens of Piazza Vittorio, in the Esquilino rione. Likewise famous is Porta Furba, which in reality is a large opening in the Acqua Felice aqueduct as it crosses Via Tuscolana.