Gates, arches etc.

The most ancient part of Rome used to be surrounded by city walls, the ruins of which can often still be admired.

Of course the Romans themselves had to be able to leave and enter the city, so many, often very beautiful, gates were built into the walls, especially where the so-called consular roads entered the city.

Some famous gates are the Porta Portese, the Porta Pia and the Porta San Sebastiano.

Apart from these gates, there are also arches to be seen all over the city, often in fairly random seeming places.

Porta del Popolo

Porta del Popolo

The Porta del Popolo connects the Piazzale Flaminio to the Piazza del Popolo in Rome and is named for the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo. It was constructed in 1561 by the architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola who used … Continue reading →

Arch of Sixtus V

The Arch of Sixtus V can be found on the Largo Sisto V, where the rione Castro Pretorio meets the rione Esquilino and can be considered the entrance to the San Lorenzo neighborhood, which is not an official quarter (rione) … Continue reading →

Porta Nomentana

The Porta Nomentana, or what is left of it, can be found along the Viale del Policlinico. Though nowadays part of the boundary wall around the British Embassy, it used to be a gate in the Aurelian Walls. The Porta … Continue reading →

Porta Pia

Porta Pia is one of the most impressive gates in Rome’s Aurelian Walls. It is named after Pope Pius IV and can be found at the beginning of the Via Nomentana. Porta Pia was meant to be a replacement for … Continue reading →

Arches of Severus (Arcate Severiane)

The Arcate Severiane, or the Arches of Severus, are located on the Circus Maximus side of the Palatine Hill. They are among the constructions commissioned by the Emperor Severus and are characterized by the simplicity of their structure. The Arcate … Continue reading →

Arco degli Argentari

The Arco degli Argentari has been partly incorporated in the Chiesa di San Giorgio al Velabro. Its height is 6,15m and its width 3,3m. It was built in the year 204 AD, commissioned by the community of money changers (argentari) … Continue reading →

Arco de’ Tolomei

The Arco de’ Tolomei is located between the Via de’ Tolomei and the Via dei Salumi and has existed since at least the year 1358. The complex it is part of was a property of the Tolomei family, an old … Continue reading →

Arch of Constantine

Arco di Costantino Roma

The Arch of Constantine (Arco di Costantino) is located on the Piazza del Colosseo, right next to Rome’s most famous tourist attraction, and is together with the Arco di Tito and the Arco di Settimio Severo one of the few … Continue reading →

Arch of Dolabella

The Arch of Dolabella (Arco di Dolabella) was built in the 10th century, in a spot where originally apart of the Mure Servian (Servain Walls) was located. It is assumed that the Arco di Dolabella was the old Porta Celimontana … Continue reading →

Arch of Drusus

The Arch of Drusus (Arco di Druso) is often thought to be a triumphal arch, but in reality it is no more than a part of the Antoninian aqueduct supplying water to the Terme di Caracalla. The arch was constructed … Continue reading →

Arco di Gallieno

The Arco di Gallieno, or the Arch of Gallienus, is a honorary arch for Emperor Gallieno and his wife Salonina and can be found in the Esquilino district of Rome. The arch was not constructed especially for the emperor, however, … Continue reading →

Arch of Janus

The Arco di Giano can be found nearby the Chiesa di San Giorgio al Velabro and the Arco degli Argentari. Though it is now known as the Arch of Janus (Arco di Giano) it is really the ancient Arco dei … Continue reading →

Porta di San Sebastiano

The Porta di San Sebastiano was formerly called the Porta Appia and is the biggest gate in the Aurelian Walls. These walls were built around the city and for a  long time were the only defense the Romans had when … Continue reading →

Porta Portese

To most people Porta Portese will mostly be known as the name of the flea market that is held every Sunday morning in the quarter of Trastevere in Rome. It is however also the name of the Gate where the … Continue reading →

Porta di San Pancrazio

The Porta di San Pancrazio is located in the rione Trastevere in Rome. It marks the beginning of the Via Aurelia Antica. It was built in 1854 in order to replace another, 17th century gate, which had been constructed by … Continue reading →

Porta Settimiana

The Porta Settimiana is a gate in the Aurelian Walls in Rome. It indicates the beginning of the Via della Lungara and was built in 1498 by order of Pope Alexander IV. There was an earlier version of the gate, … Continue reading →