Porta Asinaria Explained

Porta Asinaria
Location:Rome
Coordinates:41.8857°N 12.5087°W
Built:271–275 AD
Map Dot Label:Porta Asinaria
Map Label Position:bottom
Map Type:Italy Rome Antiquity
Map Overlay:Roma Plan.jpg
Map Size:270
Mapframe-Frame-Width:270
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Caption:Click on the map for a fullscreen view
Mapframe-Zoom:12
Mapframe-Marker:monument
Mapframe-Wikidata:yes

The Porta Asinaria is a gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome. Dominated by two protruding tower blocks and associated guard rooms, it was built between 271 and 275 AD, at the same time as the Wall itself. Unlike most of the other gates, it was not rebuilt or fortified by Honorius or restored by Theoderic.

It is through this gate that East Roman troops under General Belisarius entered the city in 536, reclaiming the city for the Byzantine Empire from the Ostrogoths.

By the 16th century it had become overwhelmed by traffic. A new breach in the walls was made nearby to create the Porta San Giovanni. At this point, the Porta Asinaria was closed to traffic.

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