L’imponente Arco Etrusco di Perugia, conosciuto anche come Arco di Augusto, costituiva una delle sette porte di accesso alla città e rappresenta oggi l’esempio di antica porta etrusca cittadina meglio conservata e integra, oltre che di proporzioni davvero monumentali. La porta si apre sul cardo maximus della città, corrispondente all’attuale via Ulisse Rocchi.

L’arco venne costruito intorno al III secolo a.C. come parte di quella cinta muraria etrusca, oggi ancora visibile, che fu edificata tra il IV e appunto il III secolo a.C. Le mura etrusche coprivano una distanza di circa 3 chilometri e cingevano tutto l’antico centro storico originario. In quell’epoca, Perugia era già un centro urbano sviluppato e definito, oltre a far parte di quella lega che, di intesa con le altre città etrusche più importanti, di lì a poco si sarebbe scontrata sul campo di battaglia con le truppe romane in espansione.

E difatti, circa due secoli dopo la sua costruzione, venne fatta incidere la scritta “Augusta Perusia” per celebrare la presa della città da parte dell’Imperatore Augusto.

L’Arco Etrusco o Arco di Augusto, tra storia & mito

Lo scontro tra etruschi e romani infiammava e Perugia era oramai cinta d’assedio da circa sette mesi quando, nel 40 a.C. circa, la città capitolò. Era in corso in quel momento la guerra civile tra Ottaviano Augusto e Marco Antonio, il cui fratello Lucio si era asserragliato nella città. Difatti Perugia costituiva all’epoca un vero e proprio bastione difensivo, situato su di una altura e protetto dall’imponente cita muraria appunto, il che la rendeva molto difficile da espugnare. Inoltre, le cronache dell’epoca e di Dione Cassio in particolare, ci indicano che l’esercito di Lucio si trovava in forte vantaggio numerico e che la città era ben rifornita di viveri per l’auto-sostentamento.

Augusto era deciso a conquistare la città e volle personalmente prendere il comando delle operazioni, anche a seguito dei vari fallimenti dei suoi generali. Portando avanti il lungo assedio, la città fu infine sfinita per la mancanza di rifornimenti e per la fame. Augusto a quel punto fu libero di invaderla, lasciando libero sfogo a incendi e saccheggi. Solo i templi di Vulcano e di Giunone sfuggirono alla vendetta dell’imperatore, che comunque per riparare alle distruzioni provocate concesse ai superstiti di ricostruire il centro urbano, dando adito alla rifondazione della città proprio con il nome di Augustia Perusia.

L’incisione di questa dicitura, oltre che sull’Arco Etrusco, spicca infatti anche su Porta Marzia.

Curiosità sull’Arco Etrusco

Nel corso del tempo l’arco ha cambiato diversi appellativi, tra i quali Porta Tezia, Porta Borca, Arco Trionfale, Porta Vecchia e Porta Pulcra, ma degli antichi ingressi di Perugia è quello che ha conservato le sue caratteristiche meglio inalterate. È composto da due torrioni di forma trapezoidale e una facciata con arco. Sopra di esso si può vedere una loggia rinascimentale. Nei due blocchi in arenaria posti ai lati sono visibili i resti di due teste, che rappresentavano un tempo le antiche divinità protettrici della città.

Sopra l’arco campeggia un fregio, riconoscibile per i suoi scudi rotondi incorniciati, e vi è un’altra iscrizione latina, “Colonia Vibia”. Fu fatta aggiungere da Gaio Vibio Treboniano Gallo, durante la sua breve parentesi da imperatore tra il 251 e il 253 d.C, per onorare la città dello “ius coloniae”.

Il generale Gallo, salito al trono in quel periodo di “anarchia militare” che fece da anticamera al crollo dell’Impero Romano d’Occidente, era il rampollo di un’illustre famiglia etrusca, probabilmente di origine perugina. Dopo solo due anni fu ucciso dai suoi stessi soldati, che schierarono dalla parte di una altro generale, Marco Emilio Emiliano, che stava scendendo in Italia per sottrargli il comando.

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Built around the III century B.C., this impressive Arch was one of the seven entrance gates to Perugia in the Etruscan period. After walking past it, and going down the Ulisse Rocchi street, it is possible to arrive at Corso Vannucci, the main street of the city. About two centuries after its construction, the inscription “Augusta Perusia” was carved onto it to celebrate the conquer of the city by the Emperor Augustus.

Perugia surrendered after he had besieged it for seven months around the year 40 B.C. It was the period of the civil war between Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony. The latter’s brother, Lucius, had barricaded himself inside the city. At that time, Perugia was a bastion difficult to overcome, since it rose on a hill and the walls connecting the seven gates protected it.

Moreover, Dio Cassius’ s chronicles report that Lucius’s army was numerically strong and that the city had many provisions. Augustus decided to personally head all the military operations after the numerous defeats suffered by his generals. Eventually, the city gave in and the Emperor did not hesitate to invade, burn and loot it. Only the temples of Vulcan and Juno were saved by his revenge. To make up for his actions, Augustus conceded the survivors the possibility to rebuild the city and to refound it with the name of “Augusta Perusia” and this explains the presence of the inscription on the Etruscan Arch and above the Porta Marzia.

In the course of time, the arch has changed its name from Porta Terzia to Porta Borca, from Arco Trionfale to P
orta Vecchia and Porta Pulcra. Nevertheless, this entrance has best preserved its characteristics in comparison to the other ancient gates of Perugia.

It is composed of two trapezoidal turrets and a façade with an arch. A Renaissance lodge can be seen above it. On the two sandstone blocks at its sides, the remains of two heads are visible. Once they represented the ancient deities that protected the city.
Above the arch, there is a frieze that can be recognized by its framed circular shield and there is also another Latin inscription “Colonia Vibia”.

It was added by Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus during his short period as emperor between 251 and 253 A.D., to honour the city with the “ius coloniae”. The general Gallus, who had come to the throne during the period of “military anarchy” which announced the fall of the Western Roman Empire, was the descendant of an illustrious Etruscan family probably coming from Perugia. Only two years later, his same soldiers killed him because they joined another general, Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus, who was arriving in Italy to remove him from power.

Built around the III century B.C., this impressive Arch was one of the seven entrance gates to Perugia in the Etruscan period. After walking past it, and going down the Ulisse Rocchi street, it is possible to arrive at Corso Vannucci, the main street of the city. About two centuries after its construction, the inscription “Augusta Perusia” was carved onto it to celebrate the conquer of the city by the Emperor Augustus.

Perugia surrendered after he had besieged it for seven months around the year 40 B.C. It was the period of the civil war between Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony. The latter’s brother, Lucius, had barricaded himself inside the city. At that time, Perugia was a bastion difficult to overcome, since it rose on a hill and the walls connecting the seven gates protected it.

Moreover, Dio Cassius’ s chronicles report that Lucius’s army was numerically strong and that the city had many provisions. Augustus decided to personally head all the military operations after the numerous defeats suffered by his generals. Eventually, the city gave in and the Emperor did not hesitate to invade, burn and loot it. Only the temples of Vulcan and Juno were saved by his revenge. To make up for his actions, Augustus conceded the survivors the possibility to rebuild the city and to refound it with the name of “Augusta Perusia” and this explains the presence of the inscription on the Etruscan Arch and above the Porta Marzia.

In the course of time, the arch has changed its name from Porta Terzia to Porta Borca, from Arco Trionfale to Porta Vecchia and Porta Pulcra. Nevertheless, this entrance has best preserved its characteristics in comparison to the other ancient gates of Perugia.

It is composed of two trapezoidal turrets and a façade with an arch. A Renaissance lodge can be seen above it. On the two sandstone blocks at its sides, the remains of two heads are visible. Once they represented the ancient deities that protected the city.
Above the arch, there is a frieze that can be recognized by its framed circular shield and there is also another Latin inscription “Colonia Vibia”.

It was added by Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus during his short period as emperor between 251 and 253 A.D., to honour the city with the “ius coloniae”. The general Gallus, who had come to the throne during the period of “military anarchy” which announced the fall of the Western Roman Empire, was the descendant of an illustrious Etruscan family probably coming from Perugia. Only two years later, his same soldiers killed him because they joined another general, Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus, who was arriving in Italy to remove him from power.

Built around the III century B.C., this impressive Arch was one of the seven entrance gates to Perugia in the Etruscan period. After walking past it, and going down the Ulisse Rocchi street, it is possible to arrive at Corso Vannucci, the main street of the city. About two centuries after its construction, the inscription “Augusta Perusia” was carved onto it to celebrate the conquer of the city by the Emperor Augustus.

Perugia surrendered after he had besieged it for seven months around the year 40 B.C. It was the period of the civil war between Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony. The latter’s brother, Lucius, had barricaded himself inside the city. At that time, Perugia was a bastion difficult to overcome, since it rose on a hill and the walls connecting the seven gates protected it.

Moreover, Dio Cassius’ s chronicles report that Lucius’s army was numerically strong and that the city had many provisions. Augustus decided to personally head all the military operations after the numerous defeats suffered by his generals. Eventually, the city gave in and the Emperor did not hesitate to invade, burn and loot it. Only the temples of Vulcan and Juno were saved by his revenge. To make up for his actions, Augustus conceded the survivors the possibility to rebuild the city and to refound it with the name of “Augusta Perusia” and this explains the presence of the inscription on the Etruscan Arch and above the Porta Marzia.

In the course of time, the arch has changed its name from Porta Terzia to Porta Borca, from Arco Trionfale to Porta Vecchia and Porta Pulcra. Nevertheless, this entrance has best preserved its characteristics in comparison to the other ancient gates of Perugia.

It is composed of two trapezoidal turrets and a façade with an arch. A Renaissance lodge can be seen above it. On the two sandstone blocks at its sides, the remains of two heads are visible. Once they represented the ancient deities that protected the city.
Above the arch, there is a frieze that can be recognized by its framed circular shield and there is also another Latin inscription “Colonia Vibia”.

It was added by Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus during his short period as emperor between 251 and 253 A.D., to honour the city with the “ius coloniae”. The general Gallus
, who had come to the throne during the period of “military anarchy” which announced the fall of the Western Roman Empire, was the descendant of an illustrious Etruscan family probably coming from Perugia. Only two years later, his same soldiers killed him because they joined another general, Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus, who was arriving in Italy to remove him from power.

Built around the III century B.C., this impressive Arch was one of the seven entrance gates to Perugia in the Etruscan period. After walking past it, and going down the Ulisse Rocchi street, it is possible to arrive at Corso Vannucci, the main street of the city. About two centuries after its construction, the inscription “Augusta Perusia” was carved onto it to celebrate the conquer of the city by the Emperor Augustus.

Perugia surrendered after he had besieged it for seven months around the year 40 B.C. It was the period of the civil war between Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony. The latter’s brother, Lucius, had barricaded himself inside the city. At that time, Perugia was a bastion difficult to overcome, since it rose on a hill and the walls connecting the seven gates protected it.

Moreover, Dio Cassius’ s chronicles report that Lucius’s army was numerically strong and that the city had many provisions. Augustus decided to personally head all the military operations after the numerous defeats suffered by his generals. Eventually, the city gave in and the Emperor did not hesitate to invade, burn and loot it. Only the temples of Vulcan and Juno were saved by his revenge. To make up for his actions, Augustus conceded the survivors the possibility to rebuild the city and to refound it with the name of “Augusta Perusia” and this explains the presence of the inscription on the Etruscan Arch and above the Porta Marzia.

In the course of time, the arch has changed its name from Porta Terzia to Porta Borca, from Arco Trionfale to Porta Vecchia and Porta Pulcra. Nevertheless, this entrance has best preserved its characteristics in comparison to the other ancient gates of Perugia.

It is composed of two trapezoidal turrets and a façade with an arch. A Renaissance lodge can be seen above it. On the two sandstone blocks at its sides, the remains of two heads are visible. Once they represented the ancient deities that protected the city.
Above the arch, there is a frieze that can be recognized by its framed circular shield and there is also another Latin inscription “Colonia Vibia”.

It was added by Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus during his short period as emperor between 251 and 253 A.D., to honour the city with the “ius coloniae”. The general Gallus, who had come to the throne during the period of “military anarchy” which announced the fall of the Western Roman Empire, was the descendant of an illustrious Etruscan family probably coming from Perugia. Only two years later, his same soldiers killed him because they joined another general, Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus, who was arriving in Italy to remove him from power.