In the ancient circle of walls from the Roman period, the name of Porta Romana indicated the South door, the one that stood on the access viaduct to the city, the current Via Roma. Extension of the ancient Via Salaria (Salt Road), crossing the Velino River thanks to the Roman bridge, Via Roma connected it with the Forum, the current Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

The name continued to be used also referring to the medieval walls to indicate the door built in 1586 on the left bank of the river, to protect the Borgo district. In the past, Porta Romana was located at the end of the street of the same name, welded to the surrounding buildings. Its position, located at the southern entrance of the city along the Via Salaria, made it the visiting card for all travelers coming from Rome. For this reason, in 1930 the area underwent a requalifying interventions, by the architect Cesare Bazzani, that included a new square, Piazza della Repubblica, and the monumentalisation of the door by replacing it in the center of the square, like an arch of triumph, with a brick exedra behind it that was erected on the perimeter of the square. On this occasion, a concrete roof was added to the top of the door, bearing two welcome and goodbye inscriptions: on the outside, “Enter Omnia Fausta Ferens” (enter bringing good wishes), on the inside “I et redi feliciter” (Go and successfully come back).