City wall of Perugia, Defense walls in Perugia, Italy
The city wall of Perugia is a fortification made from large travertine blocks arranged without mortar in square and trapezoidal patterns. The wall stretches more than three kilometers around the old town and contains multiple gates and smaller passages that connect the city to surrounding areas.
The fortification was built between the fourth and third centuries BC and was so strong that it stopped the Roman army under Consul Fabius Maximus Rullianus in 310 BC. This event demonstrated the military strength of the Etruscan city.
The walls display ancient Etruscan alphabet markings on stone blocks that indicated where construction materials came from and were meant to go. These inscriptions reveal how workers organized the assembly of this massive fortification.
The best way to explore the walls is to walk along the perimeter route, so bring comfortable shoes and allow adequate time. Since some pathways are uneven and certain sections climb steeply, visitors should choose a time of day when they feel rested.
The wall contains six main gates connecting to neighboring cities, alongside many smaller passages called postierle. These tiny openings originally served to drain water and show the thoughtful design of the ancient structure.
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