Aurelian Walls

The Aurelian Walls stretch for 19 km around Rome’s historic centre, enclosing 1,400 hectares. Built between AD 271 and 275 under Emperor Aurelian, they replaced the older Servian Wall from the 4th century BC. The walls enclosed all seven hills, the Campus Martius and Trastevere on the Tiber’s right bank. Brick-faced concrete 3.5 m thick and 8 m high, they originally had a square tower every 30 m. By the 4th century their height doubled to 16 m, and by AD 500 they featured 383 towers and 18 main gates. The walls were a response to invasions during Rome’s third-century crisis. After Juthungi and Vandals raided northern Italy in 270, Aurelian ordered their rapid construction to protect the city. Citizens built much of the circuit, reusing existing structures like the Pyramid of Cestius and parts of the Aqua Claudia aqueduct. Though the garrison numbered only 25,000 men, the walls deterred hit-and-run raids rather than prolonged sieges. Today the walls remain well preserved in many sections. The Museo delle Mura near Porta San Sebastiano explains their construction and defences. Best-preserved stretches run from Muro Torto to Castro Pretorio, Porta San Giovanni to Porta Ardeatina, and around Porta San Pancrazio. Each gate marks the start of a historic road: Porta San Sebastiano leads onto the Appian Way, Porta Maggiore joins three aqueducts, and Porta San Paolo links to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.