The Roman city gate built by Emperor Claudius as a monumental aqueduct bridge was Porta Maggiore.
Constructed in 52 AD, the structure originally supported two major aqueduct channels: the Aqua Claudia and the Anio Novus. Its paired arches crossed the routes later known as the Via Prenestina and Via Labicana, creating an imposing display of imperial engineering rather than merely a defensive entrance.
Porta Maggiore became a true city gate when it was incorporated into the Aurelian Walls in the 270s. That later adaptation explains a common mix-up: the gate is associated with the third-century wall system, but its aqueduct structure is several generations older. It was also repaired under Vespasian and Titus, whose inscriptions remain visible on the upper section.
The name Porta Maggiore means “larger gate,” while an older name, Porta Prenestina, referred to the road passing through it. Nearby is the Tomb of the Baker, a richly decorated monument belonging to Marcus Virgilius Eurysaces.