Porta Querquetulana

Porta Querquetulana was a gate in the Servian Wall that surrounded ancient Rome. It sat between two other gates on the Caelian Hill and served as an entrance through this important defensive system.

The gate took its name from a sacred oak grove that stood near the entrance during Rome's Republican period. This structure dates to an era when Rome reinforced its borders with massive defensive walls.

Roman architects incorporated this gate into the Servian Wall's design, positioning it strategically on the crest of the Caelian Hill along Via Tusculana.

The remains of the gate lie near the Church of SS Quattro Coronati, a location that scholars continue to study. Visitors looking for this ancient site will find few visible traces, but understanding the hill's layout helps locate where the gate once stood.

Archaeological remains of a Republican cemetery were found near the Arco di Basile, showing how close burial grounds were to city gates. These findings help researchers today better understand where the gate actually stood.