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Italy

Pyramid of Cestius

Archaeological artifact museum Archaeological site Historical civil building museum Italian national heritage Italian national museum Mausoleum Pyramid Tomb Tourist attraction

Pyramid of Cestius, Ancient pyramid tomb in Rome, Italy

Description

The Pyramid of Cestius is an ancient marble tomb in the southern part of Rome, near Porta San Paolo. The construction reaches about 36 meters (118 feet) in height and contains a small rectangular burial chamber within its concrete core.

History

Gaius Cestius commissioned the monument between 18 and 12 BC as his burial place, inspired by the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. Later, the structure became part of the Aurelian Walls, built in the 3rd century AD to protect the city.

Culture

Lo cals often call the structure simply " la piramide ," and it serves as a familiar meeting point in the southern part of the city . Visitors notice how the white marble surface contrasts sharply with the darker brick walls that surround it .

Practical

The interior can only be visited during scheduled opening times, but the exterior is visible at all times from the adjacent Protestant Cemetery. The best view is from street level at Piazza di Porta San Paolo, where the metro station is located.

Did you know?

The construction took only 330 days, as recorded in an inscription on the eastern side, which was remarkably fast by Roman standards. The steep form differs noticeably from the flatter Egyptian pyramids and resembles more closely the Nubian models from Sudan.

Location

Roma Capitale

Inception

12 BCE

Height

36.4 m

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible

Charge

5.5 EUR

Operator

Ministero dei beni e delle attività culturali e del turismo

Address

Via Raffaele Persichetti

Opening Hours

Monday-Friday 9:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Saturday 9:00-14:00

Phone

+39065743193

ss-abap-rm@beniculturali.it

Website

https://coopculture.it/heritage.cfm?id=59#

GPS coordinates

41.87639,12.48083

Latest update

December 13, 2025 15:40

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