ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

The Walls of Milan

The walls of Milan, a testament to the city's rich history and strategic importance, have been a subject of fascination for centuries. Erected from the Roman era to protect the city, these ancient fortifications were constructed in three concentric circles: the Roman city, perfected by Emperor Maximian in the 4th century, the medieval one, and the most recent Spanish walls, built during the Spanish domination of the Duchy of Milan.

The medieval and Spanish walls are also known as bastions of Milan, and their remnants can still be seen today in various parts of the urban system. The traces of these ancient structures are well readable in the city's layout, with landmarks such as Cerchia dei Navigli, a circumvallation realized where once was the Fossa Interna dei Navigli, navigable by barges and covered between the two world wars. Similarly, the circle of the ramparts is indicated to indicate the circumvallation, concentric to the first and wider times.

The Roman walls date back to around 49 BC, when Milan was elevated to the rank of municipium. Although it is believed that they were built under the principality of Ottaviano Augusto, the exact details of their construction are unclear. The city gates of Milan, at the time called Mediolanum, were also built during this period, with six main gates: Porta Comasina (now located on Via del Bosco), Porta Giovia (in via San Giovanni sul Muro), and others.

The oldest Roman walls were developed in two stages: one in the Republican era and another in the Imperial era. The first phase of construction took place during this time, with a second phase following later. Unfortunately, much of the information about these early structures has been lost to history.

Despite their age, remnants of the Roman walls can still be seen today, albeit in fragmented form. In 1884, the Beruto Plan was implemented for the city of Milan, which led to the demolition of many ancient structures, including parts of the medieval and Spanish walls. However, a few short sections have been saved from these demolitions.

Today, visitors to Milan can still see remnants of the Roman walls in various locations throughout the city. For example, some tracts of the Massimian walls are preserved within the Chiostro del Monastero di San Vito, while others can be seen along Via Montenap