Porta Palatina, Turin, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Porta Palatina is a Roman city gate in Turin, built in the 1st century BCE when the city was the colony of Augusta Taurinorum. It is the largest Roman structure still standing in Turin and one of the best preserved Roman gates anywhere, with two tall towers flanking its entrance.

The story behind it

The gate was part of the walls of Augusta Taurinorum and served as one of the main entrances to the Roman town. The name Palatina is usually linked to the Latin word for palace. Its brick facade, towers and rows of arched windows were built to impress anyone arriving at the city as well as to defend it.

Unlike most Roman gates, this one was never lost. It survived the centuries as the city changed around it and was reused in later periods. Over time, buildings crowded against it, and they were cleared away so that the Roman structure could be seen clearly again. Today it stands in an open square, next to the remains of Roman Turin, and is the easiest place in the city to picture the ancient town.

What to look for

• The two sixteen-sided towers on either side of the gate, which give the structure its distinctive silhouette.
• The four passages in the facade, with two large central arches and two smaller ones beside them.
• The two rows of arched windows above the entrances, which show how the gate was built to be lived in and guarded.
• The warm brick of the walls, which helps you spot what is Roman and what comes from later repairs.

Tips for your visit

• You can admire the gate from the square for free at any time. Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the gate itself, or longer if you also visit the nearby Roman remains.
• Late afternoon light brings out the colour of the brick, and the square is usually calmer in the morning.
• The Roman Theatre remains and the archaeological area are close by. Check current opening hours before planning a visit inside any museum.
• The Duomo and the Royal Palace are a short walk away, so the gate fits easily into a morning in the old centre.

See it on a quest

The gate is a good stop on a longer walk through the old town, and Ghosts of Turin: The Hidden Spell passes right by it. You reach the Porta Palatina on foot as one stop of the route, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what stands in front of you. The ghostly theme sends you through the streets around the gate, not just to the gate itself. The quest is paid, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.