Rome's walls
 

Salve! I am going to travel to Rome in a few weeks and doing some research on sights I'd like to visit. Now, I am interested in walls and fortifications and would like to know if there is any particular part of Rome's walls that is best preserved and well worth a visit. I know that there are different wall circuits (the oldest being the Servian Walls, the next oldest and -from what I get- well preserved Aurelian Walls, and some later walls built by Pope).

Also, I found out there is a museum dedicated to Rome's walls, has anyone had the chance to go there?

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

This is the link to the museum you are asking about
http://en.museodellemuraroma.it/
It was closed when we last visited Rome but is on my "to do: list for next time

Fodorite Paradiselost has written detailed posts about ancient Rome. If you post a question on this thread he wrote about the walls, he will probably see it and give you more info.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-collapses.cfm

You might also find a couple of his walking tour posts interesting.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lking-tour.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lking-tour.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...our-part-2.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rmini-area.cfm

You can click on his screen name and find his other threads about ancient Rome.

Wiki also has a bit of info/links/map about the walls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurelian_Walls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servian_Wall

One of the best sections of Rome's wall, including a massive gate, is at the Pyramid of Cestius (which is impressive in itsself). Easy to reach with the subway - the station is called "Piramide".

As noted in the last post, the Pyramid and surrounding section of the wall are interesting. The Protestant Cemetery is right in this neighborhood, too. Keats and Shelley are both buried there. It is easy to reach by bus as well as subway.

Thanks kybourbon:).

In the website below I have done the Aurelian Wall Part I & II walk in reverse order on 3 seperate occasions and sections, from Porta San Giovanni to Porta del Popolo.
That website wasn't available or I missed it back then and in hindsight I see that I missed alot of big & little tidbits on my walks:(.

http://roma.andreapollett.com/S4/walls.htm (Scroll-down after the Introduction' and only use the "explore more in detail THE SERVIAN WALLS" link because the one in the 'Intro' takes you to their Italian page).

In Part III the only section I visited was the Porta San Paolo Gate & Walls across from the 'Piramide Metro Station' mentioned above.

Now this info is dated (7yrs) so things can change but back then;

This City Gate had a small museum in it which allowed you limited access inside an actual City Gate. I always meant too but never visited the one in the website posted earlier (Porta San Sebastiano) which is alot better.

The Protestant Cemetery is behind the *real* Pyramid, the gate was always locked but just ring the bell.
This also allowed access to a cool section of the Aurelian Wall, the top was a covered walkway with those narrow slit windows [] for archers.

And for the best intact section of the Severian Wall, it's right outside of Termini's front door.
Regards, Walter

Also google "Castel Sant' Angelo" this went from the Mausoleum of Hadrain to a fortification and part of the Aurelian Walls in 401AD to a full-blown castle centuries later.
Has a cool ancient weapons museum, cannons and a catapult plus alot of history.

www.maquettes-historiques.net/P5.html
Scroll-down to 'Gates' the colorful drawings will give you an idea of how the gates and walls looked in ancient times. Regards, Walter

I went to visit the Museo delle Mura about 2 1/2 years ago. It was a bit out of the way. It was disappointing not to be albe to walk the walls, something that had been possible some time before my visit.

I think my source of inspiration came from a chapter in Corrado Augias' Secrets of Rome that described the apartments Mussolini's son in law had arranged in the towers that now serve as the museum.

Thanks everyone for your answers! The southern part of the Aurelian walls and the pyramid of Cestius seem to be worthy of a visit, but, as already pointed out, a little bit out of the way, so I guess that visiting the place depends on the available time.
ParadiseLost, the website you provided is indeed most helpful.
Castel Sant'Angelo is definitely going to be part of your tour, it's very close to the Vatican and other points of interest anyway:). Could you explain to me why you say *real* pyramid? Is there a copy-pyramid then?

"Could you explain to me why you say *real* pyramid? Is there a copy-pyramid then?"

I haven't a clue why I stressed the *real* at that time :). Regards, Walter