{"id":25383,"date":"2026-05-15T16:20:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/?p=25383"},"modified":"2026-05-15T17:52:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T16:52:49","slug":"seven-hills-of-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome","title":{"rendered":"Seven Hills of Rome: Complete Guide | Walks of Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Seven_Hills_of_Rome_What_are_they_and_how_to_explore_them%E2%80%82\" >Seven Hills of Rome:\u00a0What are they and how to explore them\u2002<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Why_is_Rome_called_the_City_of_Seven_Hills\" >Why is Rome called the City of Seven Hills?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#What_are_the_Seven_Hills_called\" >What are the Seven Hills called?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Seven_Hills_of_Rome_Things_To_Do\" >Seven Hills of Rome: Things To Do<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Aventine_Hill\" >Aventine Hill<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Caelian_Hill\" >Caelian Hill\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Capitoline_Hill\" >Capitoline Hill\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Esquiline_Hill\" >Esquiline Hill<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Palatine_Hill\" >Palatine Hill<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Quirinal_Hill\" >Quirinal Hill<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Viminal_Hill\" >Viminal Hill<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#FAQs_%E2%80%93_Seven_Hills_of_Rome\" >FAQs &#8211;\u00a0Seven Hills of Rome<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#Why_should_you_take_a_guided_tour\" >Why should you take a guided tour?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#When_is_the_best_time_to_visit_Rome_and_Vatican_City\" >When is the best time to visit Rome and Vatican City?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/seven-hills-of-rome\/#One_Last_Word_%E2%80%A6\" >One Last Word \u2026<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Seven_Hills_of_Rome_What_are_they_and_how_to_explore_them%E2%80%82\"><\/span>Seven Hills of Rome:\u00a0What are they and how to explore them<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2002<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Book of Revelations, 17:9, there\u2019s a passage that goes like this: \u201cThis calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What seven hills is this verse in the New Testament referring to?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many towns in the world are said to be nestled within seven hills: Dubuque, Iowa; Chisnau, Moldova; Asunci\u00f3n, Paraguay; and Prague, Czech Republic are but four of the dozens that make this claim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there\u2019s one city among them whose seven hills are the most legendary: Rome. The Eternal City\u2019s seven hills were, in fact, the reference in Revelations.\u00a0 But what are the seven hills, and where are they located in Rome? You can keep reading and get a taste of what the famed seven hills have to offer during a trip to the Italian capital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_Rome_called_the_City_of_Seven_Hills\"><\/span>Why is Rome called the City of Seven Hills?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rome has a handful of nicknames: the Eternal City, Caput Mundi, and the Holy City, among them. Another popular name is the City of Seven Hills. Here\u2019s a fun fact: the city\u2019s three tallest hills &#8211; Monte Mario, Janiculum, and Monte Ciocci &#8211; are not part of the historic seven.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s because when the city earned the nickname, the boundaries of the city encompassed just seven hills, all of which were separate settlements thousands of years ago. The hilltops were used as protection. That is, until the denizens of those hills began interacting and formed what we now know as the historic city of ancient Rome. The Servian Wall was built in the early fourth century B.C., and helped solidify Rome as a bigger settlement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And let\u2019s not forget the (probably) mythical foundations of Rome: the twins Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome on April 21, 753 BC, on Capitoline Hill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Insider Tip:<\/strong> To experience these stories beyond the page, you can also explore with a local guide on one of our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/attraction\/private-tours-in-rome\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">private tours in Rome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, designed to reveal the layers of history hidden throughout the city.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_600\" style=\"width: 2058px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-600\" class=\"wp-image-600 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Picture-303-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"One of the best view of Italy\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Picture-303-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Picture-303-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Picture-303-1536x921.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-600\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From far away, even Rome looks peaceful<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Seven_Hills_called\"><\/span>What are the Seven Hills called?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The names of the historic Seven Hills of Rome are rooted in the city\u2019s pagan past as well as its deep connection to nature and the land it sits on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Aventine Hill:<\/strong> likely named after King Aventinus, a 7th-century-BC monarch who is reportedly buried on the hill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Caelian Hill:<\/strong> named after 6th-century-BC Etruscan ruler, Caelius Vibenna. Before that, this hill was named \u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Querquetulanus mons\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> because of the ample amounts of oak trees, or quercus, in Latin, on the hill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Capitoline Hill:<\/strong> Famed Roman historian Livy wrote that this hill\u2019s name is derived from the Latin word for head, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">caput<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, because when excavating Capitoline, they found a skull (possibly that of Olus, an Etruscan ruler.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Esquiline Hill:<\/strong> In the early years of Rome, the \u201ccity\u201d boundaries were confined to Capitoline and Palatine Hills. So, Esquiline refers to \u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exquilini<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d or \u201coutside,\u201d meaning it was a suburb\u2014even though today Esquiline Hill is very much in the center of Rome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Palatine Hill:<\/strong> Many historians agree that the word Palatine is a reference to the ancient pagan god, Pales, protector of shepherds and flocks of sheep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Quirinal Hill:<\/strong> Originally a small hilltop Sabine village, Quirinal gets its name from the Sabine god, Quirinus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Viminal Hill:<\/strong> Originating from the Latin word <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vimen<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Viminal Hill was named for a \u201cpliant twig.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Keep reading:<\/strong> For a more detailed focus on each hill and things you can do while exploring the seven hills of Rome. You can also want brush up on some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/rome-travel-tips\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel tips for Rome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_25125\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25125\" class=\"wp-image-25125 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Walks_Rome_Alone-in-the-Catacombs_0036.jpg\" alt=\"A view of the skyline as you approach Rme from the river , with treeline river, a bridge and a huge dome in the background\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Walks_Rome_Alone-in-the-Catacombs_0036.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Walks_Rome_Alone-in-the-Catacombs_0036-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Walks_Rome_Alone-in-the-Catacombs_0036-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25125\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rome is situated on the Tiber river, and thousands of years of history flows through it!<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Seven_Hills_of_Rome_Things_To_Do\"><\/span>Seven Hills of Rome: Things To Do<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aventine_Hill\"><\/span>Aventine Hill<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aventine Hill is the southernmost of the Seven Hills and lies closest to the Tiber River. According to Rome\u2019s founding myth, the brothers Romulus and Remus held an augury contest,\u00a0 observing birds for auspicious signs from the gods, to determine which brother had the right to found and name the city. Remus took his augural station on the Aventine, while Romulus chose the Palatine Hill. (Spoiler alert: Romulus came out the victor.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, visitors can explore Aventine Hill\u2019s many historic sites, including the early fifth-century Basilica of Santa Sabina, the oldest surviving basilica in the city. The adjacent convent has housed several notable religious figures over the centuries, including Saint Dominic and Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century, as well as Pope Pius V in the sixteenth century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> Knights of Malta Keyhole <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a unique feature. Located at the Priory of the Knights of Malta, press your face close to the large keyhole in the gate and you\u2019ll get a keyhole-framed view of Michelangelo\u2019s dome of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/st-peters-basilica-tour-dome-crypts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22594\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22594\" class=\"wp-image-22594 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/copula-1.jpg\" alt=\"Various people sitting on benches in a park space with St Peter's Basilica dome in the background.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/copula-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/copula-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22594\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">St Peter&#8217;s Basilica dome is a sight to behold from any angle<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Caelian_Hill\"><\/span>Caelian Hill<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the Roman Republic, Caelian Hill was an upscale residential area. And supposedly, Marcus Aurelius, the powerful, second-century AD Roman emperor, was born 0n Caellian Hill in 121 AD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These days, the swath of Rome on Caelian Hill is a peaceful area. Make sure you stop into <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cgu.it\/it\/santo-stefano-rotondo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santo Stefano Rotundo al Cielo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a fifth-century church with graphic murals of early Christian martyrs being killed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 910px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cgu.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/parent127.jpg\" alt=\"the interior of Santo Stefano church. located on one of the Seven Hills of Rome\" width=\"900\" height=\"200\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit : www.cgu.it\/it\/santo-stefano-rotondo\/<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/sovraintendenzaroma.it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Villa Celimontana<\/a> is surrounded by a peaceful park studded with Roman ruins and an ancient Egyptian obelisk. Legend suggests that the globe atop the obelisk houses the ashes of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, but no one really knows for sure.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Capitoline_Hill\"><\/span>Capitoline Hill<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capitoline Hill, overlooking the Roman Forum, is where we get the English word \u201cCapitol\u201d from\u2014as in Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The very important Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capilolinus was built here in 509 BC and was as enormous as the Parthenon in Athens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sadly, the temple is long gone, but visitors who trudge up Capitoline Hill today are rewarded with a wonderful view of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. You can also admire Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo. And don\u2019t miss the <\/span><b>Capitoline Museums,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> home to a bounty of ancient Roman sculpture and paintings by Caravaggio, Titian, and Velazquez.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adjacent to Capitoline Hill lies the famous Roman Forum, once the political and social heart of ancient Rome. If <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/virtual-tour-roman-forum\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visiting the Roman Forum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is next on your Rome itinerary, this guide will help you make the most of your experience.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_15021\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15021\" class=\"wp-image-15021 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Roman-Forum-Hero.jpg\" alt=\"Roman Forum\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15021\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The ancient ruins of the Roman Forum.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Esquiline_Hill\"><\/span>Esquiline Hill<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The long, gently sloping hill at the base of the Colosseum is the Esquiline Hill. It goes all the way to Termini Railway Station. There are a few must-visit sites on Esquiline Hill, most of which are among the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/the-most-jaw-dropping-churches-in-rome-that-arent-called-st-peters-a-pilgrimage-to-rome-guide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">best churches in Rome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: pop into the <\/span><b>Church of San Pietro in Vincoli,\u00a0 or Saint Peter in Chains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The church is named after one of the relics on display at the altar: the chains that once held St. Peter. There\u2019s another reason to stop by: Michelangelo\u2019s unfinished sculptures of slaves, meant to be a part of the tomb of Pope Julius II.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another church that should be part of your itinerary in Esquilino, as it\u2019s said in the local parlance, is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basilicasantamariamaggiore.va\/en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, home of the Sacra Cula, the Holy Crib that once (supposedly) cradled the baby Jesus. This 5th-century structure is the largest Marian church in Rome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15432\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15432\" class=\"wp-image-15432 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/The-Basilica-di-Santa-Maria-Maggiore.jpg\" alt=\"The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore\" width=\"1024\" height=\"638\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15432\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can\u2019t get enough of the holy relics, point yourself to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.santacroceroma.it\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In the 4th century, the mother of Emperor Constantine, the future St. Helena, traveled to Jerusalem to go on a sanctified shopping spree. She returned with several relics of the Passion, including a piece of the True Cross, a thorn from Christ\u2019s Crown and a finger from Doubting St. Thomas, among others. They are displayed in the 4th-century church\u2019s Chapel of Relics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Palatine_Hill\"><\/span>Palatine Hill<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Called the \u201cfirst nucleus of the Roman Empire\u201d because it was the hill that was most centrally located and became a \u201chot spot\u201d for aristocratic Romans (the English word \u201cpalace\u201d hails from \u201cPalatine,\u201d after all). After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the hill was abandoned until wealthy Renaissance-era families reclaimed the hill and built palaces on it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can visit <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Palatino<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from two entrances: through the Roman Forum or the street Via di San Gregorio.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019re at the top of the hill, you\u2019ll most certainly marvel at the views of the Colosseum and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/virtual-tour-roman-forum\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roman Forum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> below. The Casa di Augusto is fascinating for its excellent ancient frescoes. The rub, though, is that you only access it via a guided tour. You can check out our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/%20[\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tours in Rome <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to get exclusive access and knowledge from an expert local guide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23318\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23318\" class=\"wp-image-23318 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Super-Sites-of-Rome_-Roman-Forum.jpg\" alt=\"The Super Sites of Rome include the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Super-Sites-of-Rome_-Roman-Forum.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Super-Sites-of-Rome_-Roman-Forum-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23318\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Super Sites of Rome include the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quirinal_Hill\"><\/span>Quirinal Hill<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These days Quirinal Hill, right above the Trevi Fountain, is most famous for the Renaissance-era Quirinal Palace, where the office of the President of Italy is located.\u00a0 If you trudge up the hill, one site you should not miss is the early-17th-century Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, home of Bernini\u2019s most celebrated sculpture, \u201cThe Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s truly a masterpiece and you have to see it with your own eyes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9102\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9102\" class=\"wp-image-9102\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Teresabernini.jpeg\" alt=\"The Ecstacy of Saint Teresa sculpture, Photo by Napoleon Vier\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9102\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Ecstacy of Saint Teresa, Bernini\u00b4s most celebrated sculpture, is displayed in Quirinal Hill. Photo by Napoleon Vier<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Viminal_Hill\"><\/span>Viminal Hill<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The smallest of Rome\u2019s seven hills, Viminal Hill is not without its must-see sites. The 1,700-yeare-old Baths of Diocletian could once fit 3,000 Romans. Today, it is a fascinating museum about daily life in Ancient Rome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next door to the baths is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.santamariadegliangeliroma.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This gargantuan church was largely designed by Michelangelo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rome may have more important sightseeing attractions than any other city on the planet. The above sites are just a few of what the Italian capital has to offer. For this reason, consider taking a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">guided tour of Rome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; you\u2019ll get much more bang for your buck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24857\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24857\" class=\"wp-image-24857 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walks-20190927-Rome-Galdiators-Gate-0013_Web-Res-e1771003072142-1024x793.jpg\" alt=\"A tour guide in front of the outside of colosseum with rays of sunlight lighting her from behind\" width=\"1024\" height=\"793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walks-20190927-Rome-Galdiators-Gate-0013_Web-Res-e1771003072142-1024x793.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walks-20190927-Rome-Galdiators-Gate-0013_Web-Res-e1771003072142-768x594.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walks-20190927-Rome-Galdiators-Gate-0013_Web-Res-e1771003072142.jpg 1288w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-24857\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A local expert guide will really help you make the most of seeing all the sights!<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_%E2%80%93_Seven_Hills_of_Rome\"><\/span>FAQs &#8211;\u00a0Seven Hills of Rome<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_should_you_take_a_guided_tour\"><\/span>Why should you take a guided tour?<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re in Rome for one day, one week, or one month, there\u2019s so much to see in this city of nearly three million people. You can try to do it on your own\u2014and people have\u2014but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with a tour guide to lead you around<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ll see much more in a shorter period of time and learn a lot from the educated local guide. The only planning you need to do is to figure out which tour to take. Heavy lifting done!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_is_the_best_time_to_visit_Rome_and_Vatican_City\"><\/span>When is the best time to visit Rome and Vatican City?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In terms of weather, Rome can swelter in the summer months and drop down to heavy jacket weather in the winter. For optimum temperatures, the shoulder season, March to May and September-October\u2014is perfect. Also, there are fewer crowds during the shoulder season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21307\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21307\" class=\"wp-image-21307 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0090.jpg\" alt=\"The view from St. Peters Basilica showing its large round plaza filled with people.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0090.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0090-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21307\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View of The Vatican City from St. Peters Basilica<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"One_Last_Word_%E2%80%A6\"><\/span>One Last Word \u2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u201cA fool is one who admires other cities without visiting Rome,\u201d<\/strong> said Petrarch, the 14th-century humanist.\u00a0<\/span>And if you really want to see it, the best way is with a<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/\">small-group guided<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/\"> tour<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where you\u2019ll learn some true insider information and get helpful tips for the rest of your time in the Eternal City.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Petrarch would be proud!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seven Hills of Rome:\u00a0What are they and how to explore them\u2002 In the Book of Revelations, 17:9, there\u2019s a passage that goes like this: \u201cThis calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.\u201d\u00a0 What seven hills is this verse in the New Testament referring to?\u00a0 Many [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[149],"tags":[326,80,287],"ppma_author":[181],"class_list":["post-25383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions","tag-art-culture","tag-churches","tag-roman-forum"],"authors":[{"term_id":181,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"david-farley","display_name":"David Farley","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Farley_AuthorPhoto.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Farley_AuthorPhoto.jpg"},"user_url":"","last_name":"Farley","first_name":"David","job_title":"","description":"David Farley is a West Village-based food and travel writer whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Food &amp; Wine, among other publications. He\u2019s the author of three books, including \u201cAn Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church\u2019s Strangest Relic in Italy\u2019s Oddest Town,\u201d which was made into a documentary by the National Geographic Channel. You can find Farley\u2019s online homes at https:\/\/dfarley.com\/index.html and https:\/\/www.tripout.online\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25383"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25383"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25390,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25383\/revisions\/25390"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25383"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=25383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}