Tower of Cicero and walls of the acropolis of Arpino

On the highest hill of the town of Arpino, in the suburb of Civitavecchia, stands the Tower of Cicero surrounded by a considerable section of the polygonal opus quadratum walls dated by scholars to the 4th century B.C. Contrary to what one might think, the Tower has no connection with the famous orator after whom it is named and to whom Arpino was born. It was in fact built long after his death, presumably in late Norman or Swabian times. Its name derives from the fact that Civitavecchia was believed to have been the residence of Cicero's family. The tower has a quadrangular plan reinforced by a scarp wall added presumably in the 15th century, and enhanced by an external gallery leading to the entrance. It represented the pivot of the defensive system, with a large moat toward the village and a rectilinear fence placed to reinforce the natural elevation.

On the first level you can find out more about the monument, the Cyclopean walls and the area through an in-depth illustrative section.

Inside the walls is the famous ogive-arched gate (about 6 meters high), coeval with the enclosure, reminiscent of the Scea gate of Troy recounted in the Iliad.