Rome Italy 26th February 2017

In the UK you normally associate Roman remains with ruins or partially ruined buildings but since it was cleaned up the Pyramid by the Porta San Paolo in Rome looks like it was built last year!

In fact the Pyramid of Caius Cestius was built in 12 BC which explains why the Aurelian Wall, itself built in 275 AD, abuts either side of it. An interesting fact about the pyramid is that it was built by Caius Cestius' freed slaves in his honour in 330 days. Proving the old proverb: One volunteer is worth ten pressed men.

The Porta San Paolo on the right was one of the major gateways into imperial Rome through the city wall built by Emperor Aurelian and extended in the 5th century.