Porta Maggiore Building

Address: Porta Maggiore, Via Prenestina/Via Labicana, 00184 Rome, Italy

Hours: Public monument visible at street level 24 hours

Admission: Free to view externally; some guided tours or museum access in nearby archaeological sites may charge

Porta Maggiore is a monumental gate in Rome where the courses of major aqueducts cross the city walls; the surviving masonry is a conspicuous combination of road and water infrastructure. The name today identifies the large stone arches that carried the Aqua Claudia and the Anio Novus where they pass over a major road.

The structure functioned as a gateway point on routes leading east from Rome and was later incorporated into the Aurelian Walls in the 3rd century AD. Its large masonry arches were originally part of aqueduct works and were adapted over time as the city expanded and its fortifications were built.

The gate stands in the eastern quarter of Rome, a short distance east of the ancient city centre and within the modern urban fabric of the Esquilino area, making the arches readily accessible from central Rome.

• Aqueduct arches: The monumental triple-arched aqueduct arches at the gate date to the early Roman imperial period and are clearly visible from street level.

Porta Maggiore sits at the junction of Via Prenestina and Via Labicana in eastern Rome. The nearest metro station is Porta Maggiore (Line C) and several bus routes serve the area; it’s a 15-20 minute walk from Termini station.

• Approach Porta Maggiore at early morning to see how the gate's brickwork changes colour in the low light.
• Look up inside the arches for ancient graffiti and reuse of materials from older monuments - Rome is full of second-hand stone.
• Combine with a visit to the nearby underground aqueduct basilica (Basilica of Porta Maggiore) if open, for a less-trampled Roman interior.