Abstract: Porous alumina having excellent heat resistance and coking resistance is provided. The porous alumina can include silica and barium oxide added to aluminum oxide, wherein a ratio of SiO2 addition amount to a total mass of aluminum oxide and SiO2 addition amount is defined as SiO2 addition ratio (mass %), a ratio of BaO addition amount to a total mass of aluminum oxide and SiO2 addition amount is defined as BaO addition ratio (mass %), when the SiO2 addition ratio is within a range of 3 mass % or less and the BaO addition ratio is within a range of 14 mass % or less, the silica and the barium oxide are respectively added to the aluminum oxide so that a specific surface area of the porous alumina measured by a measuring method after heat treatment is equal to or larger than a reference specific surface area of reference porous alumina.