Porta Praenestina

Porta Praenestina

The Porta Praenestina is a southeastern gate of the Aurelian Walls in Rome.

History

In the same vein as the Porta Tiburtina, the Porta Praenestina was originally a decorative arch built to support aqueducts, namely the Acquedotto Claudia and the Acqua Anio Novous, both of which crossed two arterial roads of Rome. From 271 to 275, in order to expedite the construction of the Aurelian Walls, the arch was incorporated into the project as a gate. As another case of financial efficiency, it also simultaneously served as a tomb for certain individuals.

Renaissance

In 1503, upon returning to Rome, Cesare Borgia met a kidnapped Francesco Troche at the gate. He was displeased that Francesco had unwittingly informed his brother Egidio of his plans for the conquest of Urbino. Though Francesco begged for Cesare's forgiveness, Cesare refused, ordering his executioner Micheletto Corella to strangle Troche, before commanding him to eliminate the poet and actor Pietro Rossi in the Colosseum.

Trivia

The Porta Appia, mislabeled as the Porta Praenestina in the game

• In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, all the gates of Rome are misidentified, though Shaun Hastings's database entries remains factually correct. In this case, the Porta Praenestina is erroneously marked as the Porta Nomentana, not only upon approaching it, but by the name of the tunnel entrance near it as well. At the same time, the Porta Appia is mislabeled as the Porta Praenestina. For the sake of convenience, this article assumes that, canonically, Shaun Hasting's research is correct and the Animus 2.01 mislabeled the gates.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood