Porta Salaria

Porta Salaria was a gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome, demolished in 1921.

History

Porta Salaria was part of the Aurelian Walls built by emperor Aurelian in the 3rd century, including pre-existing constructions in order to hasten the works. Under it passed the "Via Salaria nova", which joined the "Via Salaria vetus" ("Old Via Salaria") outside the city. The gate had a single passage and was flanked by two semi-circular towers. The "Horti Sallustiani" were located in the city just inside the gate.

During the restoration by emperor Honorius in the early 5th century, the arch was strengthened in "opus mixtum", and over it three large windows were opened.

The Goth king Alaric I entered Rome from this gate to begin the famous Sack of Rome. In 537 the area between Porta Salaria and Castro Pretorio was the location of the siege by the Goth king Witigis against the troops of Belisarius.

During the Middle Ages, differently from other gates of the city, Porta Salaria did not receive a Christian name.

On September 20 1870 the trait of the Aurelian Walls between Porta Salaria and Porta Pia witnessed the end of the Papal States (see Capture of Rome). The gate was damaged by the artillery fire of the Italian troops, and the following year it was demolished. In 1873 it was rebuilt under design by architect Virginio Vespignani.

However, in 1921 it was decided to demolish again the gate to open the area to road traffic. Its area is now occupied by Piazza Fiume ("Fiume square").

Remains

During the 1921 demolition were discovered several funerary monuments of the sepulchres which flanked the old Via Salaria and which had been re-used to erect the towers. A copy of the sepulchre of Quintus Sulpicius Maximus, a 11 year old boy, is now visible in Piazza Fiume (the original is the Musei Capitolini).

On right of the walls near the square are remains of 1st century BC tombs.

References

*cite book|last=Ball Platner|first=Samuel|title=A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome|publisher= Oxford University Press|year= 1929|pages= p. 416
*cite book|last=Quercioli|first=Mauro|title=Le mura e le porte di Roma|publisher=Newton Compton|year=2005