The wall of Aurélien is an ancient strengthened enclosure protecting the town of Rome.

The military reorganization of the Danube constitutes only part of defensive measurements of Aurélien (270-275). The incursion of the barbarians as far as Italy of North under Gallien (260-268), Claude the Gothic (268-270) and even at the beginning of the reign of Aurélien made fear an attack of Rome. The Mur servien builds under the royalty or at the beginning of the Republic had become out of state to defend the capital, which extended largely beyond its perimeter. Aurélien thus made the decision to build a new enclosure strengthened around the capital.

The brick wall extended on 19 km and reached at certain places 10 m in height. It was pressed on the course of the the Tiber and the hills in the East of the Tiber. A bastion advanced on the Janicule mount protected the district from Transtevere, and the principal bridges on the Tiber. On the other hand the mount the Vatican remained without protection. The layout rested a certain number of existing monuments, such as the barracks of the Praetorian Garde, a small amphitheater, tombs of which the Pyramide of Cestius, arches of the aqueducts on the Esquilin, substructions of the gardens in terraces on Pincio.

Work started towards 272 and lasted eleven years until the reign of Probus (276-282). The wall comprised a base in blocking ( Opus caementicium ), high of approximately 8 meters, surmounted arched rooms supported against a wall one meter thickness external. A covered way crowned the building. The rooms were used as room of weapons and stores, and decreased volume to be built. All the twenty steps (approximately 30 m) a quadrangular tower made covered.

The strengthened enclosure was not intended to resist in the event of a long seat, which the barbarians were not able to realize, but only to preserve Rome of a sudden attack while waiting for an army of help.

This protection did not prevent several bags of Rome during the 5th century, and was put at contribution during the confrontations between the Ostrogoths and the general Bélisaire during the reconquest of Italy by Constantinople to the 6th century. On the other hand, it effectively protected Rome against the raids buckwheats the top Moyen-âge.

Most of the wall of Aurélien remains nowadays.