Arch of Dolabella, Roman city gate on Caelian Hill, Rome, Italy
The Arch of Dolabella is a travertine gateway standing on the Caelian Hill at the intersection of two ancient streets. Part of its structure extends below ground, and an aqueduct later ran across the arch to carry water into the city.
The gateway was commissioned in 10 AD by two Roman consuls as a replacement for an earlier entrance through the city walls. Later, in 36 AD, an aqueduct was built across it to improve the water supply to Rome.
The structure bears the name of one of the consuls who commissioned it, and this name remains connected to the site today. Visitors can see how the ancient construction has become woven into the modern streetscape, carrying centuries of Roman history with it.
The gateway sits at the intersection of two streets on the Caelian Hill and is easy to reach on foot. The nearby Church of Santa Maria in Domnica and Villa Celimontana park help you locate the spot.
A saint used the arch as living space in the medieval period and founded a religious community there. This unexpected repurposing of a Roman monument shows how such structures changed their function across the centuries.
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