Your cartDuring your vacation in the Italian capital do not miss to go on the Aventine Hill! You will be enchanted by the amazing panoramic views and the beautiful churches and parks located there.
The Aventine Hill is one of the seven hills on which Ancient Rome was built. The legend recounts that Romulus had the idea to build a city on the Palatine Hill and his brother Remus thought the Aventine Hill was the right place where to start a construction of a city. The myth says that for this discordance, Romulus killed Remus and started to build Rome on the Palatine hill. In fact, the Aventine Hill was not included in the wall of the Ancient city.
The southernmost of the seven hills was the hill where plebeians used to live. Then, in the Imperial Era, a change happened. The hill became the residence of patricians and aristocrats and it becomes the new center of the city due also to the little port on the Tiber side.
Now it is a very quiet and calm quarter of Rome. A good place where to find silence and to enjoy the best views away from the noise of the city center.
Here you can find a list of places you should not miss.
1- Key Hole
In Rome, St Peter’s Dome is visible almost from everywhere due to its big dimension. Here you have the chance to look at the famous Dome directly from a Key Hole. Looking through the hole, you will be able to see the Cupolone surrounded by trees and flowers. How is it possible? Well, the Key Hole is in the door of the ‘secret garden’: the gardens of the Priorato di Malta. This garden is not opened to the general public and it can be visited only on the days in which the Priorato decide to open the doors for guided tours both for tourists and locals.
What you can admire, it’s not only St Peter’s Dome…. Look better and catch a sight of the flourishing garden!
2- The Orange Garden
There are Big parks in Rome such as Villa Borghese, Villa Ada, Villa Torlonia… but a little one with a very beautiful view is only on the Aventine Hill. The so-called Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) owes its name to the first tree planted there: an orange. It is recounted that a Dominican Frari brought with him an orange seed from Spain and planted it in this garden. As you can image, the garden has a plenty of orange trees. It is a little romantic place where locals love to go because of its quiet atmosphere. It’s true, it’s not like the view from the Pincio on top of Borghese Park but what’s better than a relaxed place where to spend the evening with your partner? During your holiday in Rome, do not miss visiting this beautiful garden!
3- Roseto Comunale
Roseto Comunale is a garden where a lot of different types of roses are hosted. The Roseto is opened during springtime – usually from May when the thousands of species of roses start flourishing. The garden is already a magical place... from here you can admire Bath of Caracalla and Circus Maximus from a panoramic view. Needless to say that the smell you breathe in the Roseto is far away from the one in the city center.
This location hosted the Jewish cemetery until 1895 when it was decided to move all graves to Verano cemetery. Then, about 50 years later, the Hall decided to create the new Roseto right there.
4- Santa Sabina Church
The most important and known church situated on the Aventine Hill is Santa Sabina Church. It is a construction from the 5th century, a great example of a Paleo-Christian church. Considered as a minor Basilica, it was raised up on the house of the Roman martyr Sabina. Inside the church, you can find some rests of ancient mosaics. The only ones that survived and are still visible are the one where are carved the name and the year of the foundation of the church. The main entrance is closed with a wooden door and it is the oldest symbol of wooden sculpture Paleo-Christian. The door is carved with some biblical scene of the Old and New Testament. In the past, it was used to divide the representation of the Old Testament from the one of New Testament but this door is the first example of no dividing representation between them. After that, this technique was then re-used for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums.
5- Forum Boarium
If we say Forum, what do you think? Well, I think that the first thing that comes up to your mind is the Roman Forum located near the Colosseum. And it’s the right answer. As you know in Rome there is more example of Ancient Forums. One of these is located on the Aventine Hill and is the Forum Boarium. Here we can catch a glimpse of the Ancient Rome looking at two temples still preserved: the Temple of Portunus (Fortuna Virilis) and the Tempe of Hercules Victor.
The Temple of Portunus is a structure dedicated to the god of the keys and doors. Despite the other temples of the same period, in the Middle Ages, it has been converted in a church devoted to Saint Mary of Egypt. This building can be considered the religious center of the Forum Boarium.
The Temple of Hercules Victor has been considered for years as a temple dedicated to Vesta because in the Roman Forum we can find the Temple of Vesta that is really similar to this one. The Temples of Hercules Victor is located near to the Temple of Portunus and it is in the hearth of the Forum Boarium.
Have you already been to Rome and already seen the main highlights? It’s your first time in our city, and you are interested in the off the beaten track tours? Do not hesitate to contact us! We will be very happy to customize a tour and give you an unforgettable experience!
