The Aventine Hill (Aventino) is one of the famous seven hills of Rome. Since it is slightly outside the present city center, it offers several wonderful panoramas over the rest of the city. Highlights include the Giardino degli Aranci and the Santa Sabina Church.
A Walk on the Aventine Hill
The best starting point of a walk through the neighborhood is the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Restored by Piranesi in 1765, this square offers a magnificent panorama of Rome. There will probably be a long line in front of the building on n. 3. People are queuing here for a view through one of the world’s most unique keyholes. It is placed in such a way that you are looking directly at the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.
From the square, you take the Via di Santa Sabina, which leads to the Santa Sabina all’Aventino Church. The entrance to the Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci) is at the Piazza di Pietro d’Illiria. The official name of the Orange Garden is Parco Savello, but there is not a single Roman who uses that name. From the garden you look across the city to the Monte Mario and Janiculum Hills.
Here you also have a view of the enormous Ripa Grande Complex at the bank of the river Tiber. Ripa Grande was the name of the old port. The Tiber being rather shallow, wares that arrived at Ostia used to be transported by flat boats to this complex in Rome.
From the Orange Garden a path down the hill leads to the Roseto Comunale (“Rose Garden”) and the Circus Maximus.