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The City Walls of Rieti: 1,800 meters of fortifications, towers and gates
The medieval walls of Rieti are among the best-preserved in Lazio. Construction began in 1252, in a century when several Popes chose the city as their papal seat, and urban expansion had pushed past the old boundaries. Completed between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the walls stretch for approximately 1,800 meters along the northern side of the city. The other sides were already protected by the Velino River and a system of artificial canals, some of which have since disappeared.
Towers, gates, and historical scars
The masonry is irregular, consisting of pebbles and stones bound with lime mortar, and regular facings appearing only at the corners and near the gates. The main gates include Porta d'Arce, Porta Conca, Porta San Giovanni, and Porta Cintia. Porta d'Arce is among the best known yet also the most battle-scarred: having been rebuilt several times, it was finally mined by retreating German troops in 1944, and never restored. Today, 20th-century buildings have taken its place, standing against the walls, with modern traffic flowing through the gap. While some sections have been lost to modern infrastructure, most of the northern perimeter remains visible, and partially walkable.
