The Aurelian Walls In Rome, Italy Editorial Photo

The Aurelian Walls near the Sebastians` Gate at the beginning of the Appian Way in Rome, Italy.. The city wall was built between 271 AD and 275 AD, during the reign of the Roman Emperors Aurelian and Probus. They superseded the earlier Servian Wall constructed during the 4th century BC. The full circuit ran for 19 km surrounding an area of 13.7 km2. By 500 AD, the circuit possessed 383 towers, 7,020 crenellations, 18 main gates, 5 postern gates, 116 latrines, and 2,066 large external windows. The Aurelian Walls remain remarkably well-preserved today, largely the result of their constant use as Rome`s primary fortification until the 19th century. The Wall Museum near the Porta San Sebastiano offers information on the walls` construction and how the defenses operated.