Porta Asinaria

The Porta Asinaria is a gate in the built 271-275 AD Aurelian Walls in Rome. The gate was in the ancient starting point of the via Asinaria, a connection to the via Appia and via Ardeatina.

The gate was originally only one of the smaller, towerless gatehouses in the Aurelian Walls. However, two square towers were nearby. Well only under Honorius, it was developed into a proper gate, received two semi-circular towers at its sides and an inner Torhof. The arc-shaped passage was widened, built about a gun chamber with five arched windows. The facade of the gatehouse itself was covered with travertine. Presumably referring the gate its increased importance due to the proximity of the Lateran Palace. After the renovation and extension work, it was the only goal of Rome, which had four towers.

By porta Asinaria invaded in 546 the Ostrogoths under their leader Totila in the city and devastated it. 1084 Robert Guiscard took it as a gateway to plunder the city after the failed attempt, when Pope Gregory VII again use his liege lord, and burn down. The gate was after considerable area increase, which made its use increasingly impossible, for the first time temporarily in 1408, then finally closed in 1574, when it under Gregory XIII. was replaced by the newly built and only a few meters away, Porta San Giovanni.