Como, Italy
1120
Palermo, Italy
1678
Palermo, Italy
1490-1520
Turin, Italy
1814
Catania, Italy
1708-1763
Rome, Italy
4th century AD
Milan, Italy
13th century
Erice, Italy
14th century
Palermo, Italy
1598
Venice, Italy
1715-1728
Castelsardo, Italy
1597
Turin, Italy
1692
Erice, Italy
1070
Salerno, Italy
1076-1084
Trapani, Italy
1421
Pompei, Italy
1891
Gallipoli, Italy
1629-1696
Milan, Italy
1075
Ravello, Italy
11th century
Sant'Ambrogio di Torino, Italy
10th century AD
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.