Panorama showing Porta San Sebastiano within the Aurelian Walls of Rome and the beginning of the Apian Way. The towers at this gate are very impressive, as this was a major entrance to ancient Rome.

Porta San Sebastiano - Rome visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Porta San Sebastiano' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Roma.

Porta San Sebastiano is one of the largest and most important gates in the Aurelian Walls that were built around Rome between 271 and 275 by Emperors Aurelian and Probus. These walls were 3.5m thick and 8m high with 383 square towers spaced every 30m along the 12.5 miles circumference. Access to Rome was controlled by 18 gates, quite a number of which still exist today.

Porta San Sebastiano is the southernmost gate in the Aurelian Walls, and from here the Apian Way (via Apia) heads south through Italy. This was the most important road in ancient Italy, connecting Rome with Brindisi, Apulia in the far south-east. Porta San Sebastiano was also referred to as 'Porta Apia' as a result. A short distance south of here is Domine Quo Vadis? and some of the ancient Catacombs. A little to the north are the ruins of Terme di Caracalla.

Other important gates in the Aurelian Walls still viewable today include Porta Maggiore, Porta S Paolo with the Pyramid of Gaius Cestius on the southern side of Rome, and Porta di Popolo next to the Piazza di Popolo in the northern walls.

Metro: Roma Ostiense (about 1.6km walk)