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Home / Ancient Roman Sites and Ruins /

The Aurelian Walls

Written by: Kate Zusmann

Porta Pinciana Aurelian Walls Rome
Opening Hours
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Recommended tour
Closest bus stops
Porta S. Sebastiano1 min 62 m: 218
Porta S. Sebastiano: 118
Closest subway stations
Ponte Lungo31 min 1.6 km: A
Circo Massimo 34 min 1.7 km: B
Address Via di Porta San Sebastiano, 18, Rome
Website www.museodellemuraroma.it

The Aurelian Walls (Le Mura Aureliane) in Rome were built in the third century A.D. and are about 19 kilometers long. Works began by Emperor Aurelian during a time of insecurity throughout Italy and the empire. Fortification walls were restored several times in antiquity but are still well-preserved. Moreover, they had 17 significant gates and several smaller openings.

Contents

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  • Emperor Aurelian
  • Building of the Wall
  • Structures
  • Exciting Facts about the Aurelian Walls
  • The Wall Today
  • Nearby Attractions

Emperor Aurelian

After five centuries of unopposed domination, Emperor Aurelian (270-275 A.D.) decided that the city needed a defensive wall to protect it against invaders as the barbarian tribes near the northern borders of the Roman Empire.

The Aurelian Wall in Rome

From the first century B.C. until the third century A.D., Rome’s military forces were powerful and the city didn’t need a protective wall.

However, a small number of soldiers were tasked with patrolling the fortifications, and the Aurelian Walls helped protect the city until the 19th century.

Building of the Wall

Initially, the Aurelian Walls were 19 kilometers long (12 miles) and 6-8 meters high (20 feet). The wall included a square tower of about 30 meters (100 feet). Moreover, it was completed by Probus, the successor of Emperor Aurelian.

the Aurelian wall in Rome

The Aurelian wall was larger and stronger than the wall of Servius Tullius and enclosed all of the Seven Hills of Rome and the Trastevere district.

Structures

Several significant monuments and buildings are incorporated into the structure. These buildings include Castel Sant’Angelo, Amphitheater Castrense, the Pyramid of Cestius, and a section of the Aqua Claudia aqueduct.

The inscriptions attest to the restoration of the wall by Arcadius and Honorius in 403 on the Portae Portuensis, Praenestina, and Tiburtina. Moreover, repairs by Theodoric and by Cassiodorus are attested by brick stamps.
map of the Aurelian wall in Rome

Exciting Facts about the Aurelian Walls

Here are five intriguing numerical and architectural facts that highlight the impressive scale and historical significance of Rome’s Aurelian Walls:

  1. Remarkably, the Aurelian Walls were constructed in just about five years (between 271 and 275 A.D.), a rapid timeline given their immense length of around 12 miles (19 kilometers).
  2. The walls incorporated around 380 defensive towers, spaced roughly every 100 Roman feet (about 29.6 meters), strategically positioned to allow defenders clear lines of sight and effective communication.
  3. Approximately one-sixth of the wall’s total length consists of pre-existing structures—such as the Pyramid of Cestius and segments of ancient aqueducts—demonstrating exceptional Roman efficiency in construction and resourcefulness in incorporating existing infrastructure.
  4. The Aurelian Walls averaged around 11 feet (3.4 meters) in thickness at the base, tapering slightly upward. Their robust design allowed these fortifications to withstand attacks and remain largely intact for nearly 18 centuries.
  5. The walls defended Rome for over 1,500 years—remarkably, they were last actively used militarily in 1870, during the capture of Rome that ultimately completed Italy’s unification. Their lasting effectiveness underscores the extraordinary durability of Roman engineering.

The Wall Today

Nowadays, the Aurelian wall is the largest ancient monument in Rome. Also, walls are still used as a boundary of the historic center.

Aurelian Walls today Porta Portese gate in Trastevere

About two-thirds of the Aurelian Wall are well-preserved even today.

There is the Museo delle Mura near the San Sebastian Gate, where you can learn more about the history of the wall. Some of the most monumental gates are the Porta Maggiore and Porta Asinaria. Unfortunately, Rome’s walls are not walkable because of their structure and security reasons. However, it is possible to follow the primary set of walls along their original perimeter.

You can check if the address of your hotel is inside the Aurelian walls.

Today, Rome’s guests are familiar with the Aurelian Wall boundaries because it is used by taxi drivers as a perimeter for different fare levels. You can read more about the taxi fares here. Also, you can use our taxi calculator.

A taxi passes through an arch in the Aurelian Walls near the Villa Borghese

It is worth saying that the Aurelian Wall is one of the most significant, extensive, and ancient monuments of the Eternal City. Nowadays, the central part of the city is measured by this wall, and you can see it from several parts of Rome.

Nearby Attractions

Caelian Hill
22 min 3580 ft 1.1 km
Baths of Caracalla
23 min 3810 ft 1.2 km
Villa Celimontana
25 min 4170 ft 1.3 km
The Basilica of St. Stephen in the Round
26 min 4270 ft 1.3 km
Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano
28 min 4530 ft 1.4 km
Holy Stairs
31 min 5090 ft 1.6 km
The Catacombs of St. Callixtus
35 min 1.1 mi 1.8 km
Pyramid of Caius Cestius
36 min 1.11 mi 1.8 km
Basilica of San Clemente al Laterano
36 min 1.11 mi 1.8 km
Circus Maximus
40 min 1.23 mi 2 km

Author: Kate Zusmann

Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

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2025.We're Kate and Artur, a duo bound by our shared fascination with the Eternal City – Rome. Our paths, driven by a mutual passion for its timeless stories and architectural marvels, converged in a way we had never imagined.

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