Porta Asinaria
N 41° 53.133 E 012° 30.547
33T E 293334 N 4640069
The Porta Asinaria, the Gate of the Donkeys, was built as a minor gate in the Aurelian Wall. It achieved notoriety when in AD 546 traitors opened this gate to let Totila and his Goths slip into the city.
Waymark Code: WM1XBC
Location: Lazio, Italy
Date Posted: 07/26/2007
Views: 64
Nearest metro station : Line A "P.za S. Giovanni"
This gate is located right next to the Porta San Giovanni.
The origin of the gate's name is still debated, since it is believed that an ancient minor road ran by this site, along which donkeys (in Latin asini) were driven into town.
Porta Asinaria was abandoned in the 16th century, when the nearby Porta S.Giovanni was built; by that time, the roman gate had also been partially buried, due to the modern street level which had considerably raised, and only in recent times it was freed again from earth and debris. In fact, you will notice how the two gates' bases stand at different heights, despite the very short distance between them.
Today, the area immediately surrounding the gate is closed to the public. Following via Sannio, where a small crafts and clothes market is held daily (except on Sundays), you will soon reach the entrance of the public garden on the left, where you can walk back towards Porta Asinaria and take a better view over the gate than from the road.
Most Relevant Historical Period: Roman Empire > 27 B.C.
Admission Fee: Free
Opening days/times:
24 x 7
Web Site: [Web Link]
Condition: Completely intact or reconstructed
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