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Asinaria Gate

Asinaria Gate

Highlight • Historical Site

Asinaria Gate

Name: Asinaria Gate
Rating: 2

Recommended by 46 hikers

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Location: Rome, Lazio, Italy

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Best Hikes to Asinaria Gate

4.9

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1. Castel Sant'Angelo – St. Peter's Basilica loop from Monteverde

27.2km

07:08

220m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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4.7

(13)

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2. Appian Way – Selce Tower loop from Spagna

27.3km

07:09

210m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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5.0

(1)

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3. View of Castel Sant'Angelo – Colosseum loop from Vatican City

11.2km

02:59

110m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Paul

April 20, 2025

Porta Asinaria / Donkey's Door
At the time of the construction of the Aurelian Walls, the Via Asinaria was a secondary route, primarily connected to local traffic. For this reason, a single-arched door was built to allow passage in the space between two square towers.
The importance of the gate grew particularly from the fourth century onwards, probably due to its proximity to the Lateran bishopric. During the Honorian reconstruction (early fifth century), the Porta Asinaria was monumentalized with the construction of two semicircular towers flanking the existing square towers, which have since been converted into staircases. A counter-door and a guard courtyard were also built during this period. As is well documented along the entire route of the defensive walls, the Porta Asinaria was also raised during this period, almost doubling the height of the building, from two to four stories in the towers and three in the courtyard.
Belisarius (536) and Totila (546) entered Rome through the Porta Asinaria during the Greco-Gothic War, and Henry IV (1084) did so during the battle that pitted him against Pope Gregory VII.
Towards the end of the 1950s, important restoration work was carried out that enabled the restoration of the building: the door was completely cleared of the burial that had partially buried it, a new travertine decoration was created for the fornix (replacing the one removed in the 16th century), and the inner door, previously known only from graphic documents before 1574, was brought to light.
Text / Source: Comunicazione Sovrintendenza, Piazza Lovatelli 35, Rome
sovraintendenzaroma.it/i_luoghi/roma_antica/monumenti/porta_asinaria

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Michael wandert 🏠

March 5, 2024

This tour was built together with the Aurelian Wall. The two protruding towers were built later.
The Ostrogoths invaded the city through this gate in 546 and devastated it.
From 1408 the gate was closed and replaced by Porta San Giovanni, just a few meters away.

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drago60

September 20, 2025

Not your average basilica. Discover the majesty and history of St. John Lateran, Rome's true cathedral.

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Elevation 50 m

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Tuesday 11 November

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Location: Rome, Lazio, Italy

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Asinaria Gate

1. Castel Sant'Angelo – St. Peter's Basilica loop from Monteverde

2. Appian Way – Selce Tower loop from Spagna

3. View of Castel Sant'Angelo – Colosseum loop from Vatican City

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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