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Basilica Porcia
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Archaeological site, 183 BC

Basilica Porcia

Building in Rome, Italy

Rome (RM), Lazio

  • Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura”
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At a glance

Period
Antiquity, 183 BC
Coordinates
41°53′36″ N, 12°29′05″ E

About

The Basilica Porcia was the first civil basilica built in ancient Rome. It was built by order of Marcus Porcius Cato in 184 BC as censor and is named after him. He built it as a space for administering laws and for merchants to meet, against some opposition. It stood to the west of the Curia, on land bought by Cato and previously occupied by shops and private houses. Many trials were held inside the basilica.

It was destroyed by fire after the body of Publius Clodius Pulcher was alit on a pyre in the adjoining senate house in 52 BC. The ruins were probably flattened later that year for a new building on the site.

Keep reading on Wikipedia

Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Basilica Porcia».

Timeline

  1. 183 BCBuilt

Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).

Photos

Getting there

Roma TerminiTrain, nearest
1.7 km as the crow flies
Basilica Porcia
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino13.8 km

Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Basilica Porcia?

Basilica Porcia is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.89332, 12.48482.

How old is Basilica Porcia?

Wikidata dates it to 183 BC.

What else is there to see near Basilica Porcia?

Nearby you’ll find: Gemonian stairs (0 m away), Mamertine Prison (0 m away), Clivus Argentarius (0 m away).

Sources and licences

Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).

Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.

Credits for the 2 photos
  1. Plan Rome - Basilica Porcia — fr:User:ColdEel & edited by nl:Gebruiker:Joris1919, CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. Planrome2b — Cassius Ahenobarbus, CC BY-SA 3.0

Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences

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