Standing near Porta Collina, one of the 16 main gates of the Servian Wall, envision Hannibal encamping his army within sight of this gate and visualize the Roman catapults defending this barrier. The Servian Wall was constructed in the 4th century BC during the Roman Republic. It stood as a barrier against external threats until it was superseded by the construction of the larger Aurelian Walls in the 3rd century AD as the city of Rome grew beyond its boundaries.
Today, some sections of the Servian Wall remain visible, offering a look into the history that molded Rome. The wall was built from large blocks of Cappellaccio tuff, a volcanic rock made from ash and rock fragments, and it stood as high as 10 metres (33 feet) in places. It measured 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) in length and enclosed a total area of 246 hectares (610 acres).
Sections of the Servian Wall can still be found in various locations around Rome, such as outside Termini Station, the main railway station, and on the Aventine Hill.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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