Pyramid of Cestius and Porta San Paolo

Porta San Paolo is one of the southern gates in the 3rd century Aurelian Walls of Rome. It is also known as Porta Ostiensis, because it opened the way to Ostia, the ancient port of Rome. The gate is named after the nearby Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where the Apostle Paul is said to be buried. The gate has an impressive structure with two cylindrical towers and a single arch. It also houses the Via Ostiense Museum, which shows the history of the road and the gate. Porta San Paolo was the scene of a historic battle on September 10, 1943, when Italian troops attempted to resist the German occupation of Rome.

Piramide di Cao Cestio is a Roman pyramid in Rome, Italy, near the Porta San Paolo and the Protestant Cemetery. It was built as a tomb for Gaius Cestius, a member of the Epulones religious corporation. It stands at a junction between two ancient roads, the Via Ostiensis and another road that ran west to the Tiber along the approximate line of the modern Via Marmorata. Due to its incorporation into the city walls, it is today one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome.

The pyramid is 36.40 meters high and has a square base of approximately 30 meters per side. The outer cladding is made of Lunense marble slabs. The vaulted burial chamber is painted white, according to a panel scheme, and decorated with refined frescoes depicting figures of nymphs and winged Victories holding a crown and ribbon in their hands. The first violation of the tomb probably dates from the Middle Ages, through a tunnel dug on the north side, which resulted in the loss of the urn and significant parts of the decoration.