Now lost, Porta Salaria once stood astride the road to Sabina, used for transporting salt inland. Built by Aurelian with a single arch and two semicircular towers, it was later heightened under Honorius and clad in travertine. Possibly at this time, an inner gate and portcullis chamber were added. Severely damaged during the 1870 capture of Rome, the gate was demolished and replaced in 1873 by a new structure by Virginio Vespignani. In 1921 it was removed to improve traffic, but the plan of Aurelian’s original gate is still marked in pink granite on Piazza Fiume’s pavement.
