Etruscan Arch, Ancient city gate in Perugia, Italy.
The Etruscan Arch is an ancient city gate in Perugia featuring two trapezoidal towers reaching about 20 meters high. The structure uses rough-cut travertine blocks stacked without mortar, demonstrating remarkable durability across centuries.
The gate was built in the third century before Christ as part of the original city defenses. Emperor Augustus ordered its restoration in 40 BC following a civil war that ended with his control of the city.
The inscriptions carved on both the inner and outer faces reveal how Roman rulers renamed the city to assert their power and control. You can still see today how these names became woven into the place's identity.
The arch sits in Piazza Fortebraccio near Palazzo Gallenga Stuart and is easy to reach on foot. It forms part of the ancient city wall that circles the old town, making it a natural stop during a walk around Perugia's upper streets.
Scorch marks still visible beneath the vault date back to a siege in ancient times when the city faced destruction. These dark stains on the stone serve as silent reminders of how violence once scarred this structure.
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