Roman Walls

Rome's ancient defensive walls comprise multiple systems built over centuries. The Servian Wall (4th century BC) stretched 11 km with tuff blocks up to 10 m high and 3.6 m thick, successfully repelling Hannibal during the Second Punic War. The Aurelian Walls, built 271-275 AD by Emperor Aurelian during the Crisis of the Third Century, extended 19 km with approximately 380 towers every 30 m and 17 major gates. About two-thirds of the Aurelian Walls survive today, last seeing military use in 1870 during Italian unification. The Museo delle Mura near Porta San Sebastiano documents their history.