Estimated Reading Time: 5 min
Muro Torto is one of the most famous roads of Rome and its strange name -which means “twisted wall”- hides a legend. Read on and we’ll tell you more about the Muro Torto, the “Twisted Wall” of Rome and its legend. As often happens in this marvellous city, names have an origin that dates back many centuries! We’d be glad to share these with you while walking towards the Galleria Borghese or towards Piazza del Popolo. Come to Rome…take one of our Tours! We will share Rome’s many legends… like the one which belongs to the Muro Torto or… Twisted Wall.
Where is the Muro Torto?
First of all, the Muro Torto (Twisted Wall) is in reality a stretch of the Aurelian Walls that flank Villa Borghese and the Pincio hill. It is only a few steps away from Piazza del Popolo. The particularity of this section of the wall is that it seems to be about to collapse. Deliberately, over time (apart from the modern age, for security reasons), no action was ever taken to resolve the issue. This is a part of its legendary history…
Muro Torto (the “Twisted Wall”) and its legend
Well… the reason behind the fact that the Muro Torto, notwithstanding it run down state, has never been touched is… it is considered cursed! Prostitutes and death-sentenced criminals were buried here. According to tradition, also Nero himself found his burial somewhere on this land. For this reason, as you can imagine, the location was not much favoured by the Christians….
Muro Torto – Twisted Wall in Rome
Many legends mention the location throughout the centuries. It is said that the ghosts of those that were executed in nearby Piazza del Popolo, still roam in the Muro Torto area.
In addition at the beginning of the last century many of the city’s suicides decided to throw themselves on this stretch of the Aurelian Walls… This has not helped to change the idea of the Romans on this place.
In short, despite numerous traditions and legends , this section of the Aurelian Walls, dating back to the third century AD, resists, notwithstanding the many eerie legends, the bad weather, traffic , public executions, suicides, and non-Christian burials!
If you like to read more on the macabre legends of Rome, have a look at our blog “Tales of Rome” and read these: https://www.essenceofrome.com/the-eerie-legend-of-the-portraits-in-saint-paul-outside-walls/ or this one: https://www.essenceofrome.com/the-macabre-ceremony-of-the-sacconi-rossi/.
Come and #feeltheessence!
