Though it's a bit off the tourist trail, the Porta Maggiore is a must-see for visitors interested in ancient Roman fortifications. Many sightseeing tours of Rome pass by the Porta Maggiore, but if you want to get up close, you’ll most likely have to visit on your own.
Rome’s hop-on hop-off tour is a great way to see the city with the option of stopping at major attractions like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. The Santa Maria Maggiore stop will get you within a 15- to 20-minute walk of Porta Maggiore.
The Porta Maggiore is located in eastern Rome, 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) east of the Colosseum. Take tram lines 3, 5, or 14 to the Piazza Di Porta Maggiore stop, and you’ll arrive right outside the gate. Alternatively, the Porta Maggiore is a 20-minute walk from the Roma Termini, the main railway station in Rome.
The Porta Maggiore is located in a public square so it is always open. Less visited than other Rome attractions, there is no best time to visit the gate. Peak season in Rome is from June through Aug., so visit outside that time to avoid the largest tourist crowds.
Located just outside the Porta Maggiore is a well-preserved funerary tomb built between 50 and 20 BC and later incorporated into the Aurelian Wall. The tomb was built by Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces, a baker and former slave. This tomb is one of many extravagant tombs built by former enslaved people. It’s thought that these tombs were built as monuments for freedom and for future generations to appreciate the end of slavery in the family lineage.
