Porta San Paolo

The Porta San Paolo, known in antiquity under the name of Porta Ostiensis, is a city gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome. It is the starting point of the Via Ostiensis (now Via Ostiense ), one of the busiest streets of Rome, which once led to the port of Ostia. Nearby stands the Pyramid of Caius Cestius at the Porta San Paolo.

The gate originally had two arched passages of travertine, which are flanked by two semicircular towers of brick masonry. The gate was originally part of a two- doors ensemble, since two important arterial roads leaving the city. They testify to the importance and the traffic that linked Rome here with the ancient harbor at Ostia. 1888, one of the gates was demolished and only a description Lancianis are still some information. The more important goal, which still preserved, porta San Paolo, was remodeled under Honorius, the towers were raised. The gate was rebuilt for defense reasons. The outer gate area was demolished and replaced by a wall with just one pass, while the goal on the inside still consisted of two Bogedurchgängen. Above the central gate area a gun chamber with six arched windows has been established. Maybe the changes but were also carried out until the 6th century at the time of Belisarius under Narses.

The massive, fortified plant was also called in the Middle Ages Castelletto. However, in the 6th century, it was given the name Porta San Paolo, as it was the starting of the city to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Even in the fourth century, when the now located on the Lateran and originating from the Circus Maximus obelisk had to be carefully maneuvered through the gate, she was known as the porta Ostiensis.