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The camp was built by order of the emperor Septimius Severus in about 202
A.D., at the 15th mile of the Via Appia, to provide
headquarters for the 6000 or so soldiers enlisted in the Legio II
Parthica (also called Albana).
The Castra were fortified by a massive circuit wall in opus quadratum,
topped by battlements. They covered an area of ten hectares that
was roughly rectangular in plan, with the sides measuring 435 m.
by 232 m.
To complete the fortifications, circular towers were placed at the four
corners and quadrangular ones along the long sides.
Large portions of the circuit walls can still be seen today, as can some
of the towers and the impressive monumental ruins of buildings,
the main gates, some stretches of road paving and some public
works, not to mention the remains of hoses and warehouses.
The fonds from the excavation of the camp are kept in the Albano Museum.
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