Forte Aurelia Antica, Military fort on Via Aurelia Antica, Rome, Italy
Forte Aurelia Antica is a military fort located on Via Aurelia Antica with a pentagonal design and an interior courtyard used for storage. The structure was protected by a surrounding moat and reinforced by an additional defensive outwork to strengthen its position.
The fort was built between 1877 and 1881 to monitor the routes connecting the port of Civitavecchia to Rome. It became part of a broader fortification system that the city developed during this period of military modernization.
The fort reflects how Rome reinforced its defenses in the late 1800s through a coordinated network of military outposts. It demonstrates the strategic thinking behind protecting the capital from potential threats arriving from the coast.
The fort is located along Via Aurelia Antica and currently serves as a base for the Guardia di Finanza. Visits are possible but should be arranged in advance, as the facility remains an active military headquarters.
The fort contains two natural spring wells beneath the ground that still function today. The entrance gate retains its original door, though a modernized drawbridge replaced the traditional mechanism in the 1930s.
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