The Pincio Hill extends from the Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps in Rome. At both ends of the Terrazza del Pincio there is a terrace with a magnificent viewpoint over the entire city. The walk along the edge of the hill is now as the Passeggiata del Pincio.
Pincio Terrace Rome
Address, hours, tickets
The Terrazza del Pincio runs from approximately the Piazzale Napoleone I to the Viale della Trinità dei Monti. Neighborhood: Campo Marzio. Metro: Flaminio, Spagna (line A). The best time to take the walk is toward sunset.
History and description
Already in Roman times, the Pincio was a popular spot and wealthy families often had country houses there. One of these families was called Pincio, and thus gave their name to the hill.
By the end of the 3rd century, the entire hill came to lie within the newly constructed Aurelian Wall.
After the Italian state had acquired the Villa Borghese, they built a bridge connecting the hill to this park.
The Pincio hill was turned into a public park in 1834 by the architect Valadier. He did this while simultaneously working on a new layout of the Piazza del Popolo. Since then, especially around sunset, the terrace has been a favorite spot for Romans and tourists alike.
Passeggiata del Pincio
The northern point of the walk looks out over the Piazza del Popolo. On clear days, it is sometimes possible to make out the Dome of St. Peter’s and even the Garibaldi Monument on top of the Janiculum hill.
From here, the walk toward the Spanish Steps offers another magnificent panorama. Just before the steps and the Trinità de’ Monti Church, one can see the domes, steeples and roofs of some of Rome‘s most famous landmarks.
The walk to the steps leads past beautiful buildings, such as the Casina Valadier and the Villa Medici. Below the villa, one looks down on a fountain sometimes called the Vasca del Pincio (“Pincio Tub”).
The path is lined with busts of famous Italians, as is the rest of the Pincio Garden. The busts (229 altogether) were placed there in various stages during the second half of the 19th century. Only three of the busts are women.
