How to explore the Seven Hills of Rome

You might have heard the city of Rome being referred to as the “City of Seven Hills” or Sette Colli di Roma. These seven hills located east of the Tiber River are considered the grounds where Rome was founded; they are an integral part of Rome’s historical and cultural landscape.

The seven hills of Rome are Palatine Hill, Aventine Hill, Capitoline Hill, Caelian Hill, Esquiline Hill, Viminal Hill and Quirinal Hill. Each of these hills was a separate settlement that eventually came together to form the early Roman Kingdom.

While we call them hills, these districts in Rome are not difficult to climb and can be easily explored on foot. Also, other hills in Rome today include those outside the original borders of the ancient city like Pincio, Janiculum, and even Vatican Hill.

Find out why you should explore the seven hills of Rome on your next trip.

Palatine Hill is the main setting of one of Rome’s founding legends–the story of Romulus and Remus who were nursed in a cave by a she-wolf. It was this hill that the adult Romulus favored and where he eventually founded Rome. Palatino later became the aristocratic quarter of Rome’s ruling class and home to several temples and palaces.

Palatine Hill is packaged together with the Roman Forum for the Colosseum ticket and this outdoor museum holds plenty of excavated treasures dating as far back as 1,000 B.C.

These include the ruins of the massive Domitian Palace complex and stadium, the well-preserved Houses of Augustus and Livia and their frescoes, and the Farnese Gardens which are one of the first botanical gardens built in Europe. Don't forget to stop by the Palatine Museum which houses many of the unearthed artifacts found here.

Remus wanted to establish the Roman empire on Aventine Hill, but since Romulus prevailed in that battle, Aventino became associated with the common folk. New settlers to Rome made Aventino their home.

Aventine Hill eventually transformed into a wealthy residential area. One unusual photo spot here is the Aventine Keyhole which offers a lovely framed view of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance. The doorway is located in the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta built by famed architect Piranesi.

The Rose Garden houses over 1,000 species of roses, and Parco Savello at the top of the hill is lined with orange trees and offers some of the best views of Rome. Also of note is the Basilica di Santa Sabina, one of Rome’s oldest basilicas built in the fourth century.

Capitoline Hill was named for the temples belonging to the Capitoline Triad, a collective name for Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, three of the most important deities in ancient Rome. Capitoline Hill was the civic center of Rome, home to the Tabularium (official records office) and many palazzi (stately buildings) that held government offices. The 16th century plaza Piazza del Campidoglio, perched on Capitoline Hill, was redesigned by renowned Renaissance artist and architect Michelangelo.

The main attraction is the Capitoline Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world consisting of three palazzi filled with 20 galleries worth of priceless artifacts and artwork.

At the peak of Capitoline Hill is the Basilica of St Mary in Ara Coeli, the designated church of the Rome City Council, which sits on the site of the former Temple of Juno Moneta. Nearby is the impressive Vittoriano monument, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland or Victor Emmanual II Monument, named for the first king of unified Italy in the late 19th century.

Caelian Hill is where the Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater is located. Back in the day, this hill was entirely covered with oak trees, and over time it became a wealthy neighborhood.

The Via Claudia runs through the hill, sectioning it into a more modern east side and a medieval west side where you can find some well-preserved underground Roman houses at the Case Romane del Celio.

There are several unique churches of note here, like the three-story Basilica di San Clemente, the Basilica di Santo Stefano Rotondo which features a rare circular design, and the Basilica Santi Quattro Coronati that was once a medieval fortress.

Esquiline Hill was historically a fascinating mix of cultures and classes. It was where Emperor Nero built his Golden House, Domus Aurea, the grandest villa in Rome’s history that extended to neighboring Palatine Hill and Caelian Hill. But the hill was also part of Suburra, the working-class urban district of ancient Rome.

While most of the Domus Aurea was torn down and built over by Nero’s successors, you can still visit some of the excavated pavilions with their elaborate wall decorations located underneath the remains of Trajan’s Baths, one of the largest in the world at that time.

Climb to the peak to visit Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s four papal basilicas and the largest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the city, or check out the Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli for masterpieces by Michelangelo, including the famous Moses statue with horns on his head.

Nestled between Esquiline and Quirinal Hills, Viminal Hill is the smallest of Rome’s seven hills.

The central Termini train station is located at Viminal Hill. At its peak is the Palace of Viminale, a historic palace that houses the Ministry of Interior and was once the Prime Minister’s residence.

At the foot of the hill is the National Roman Museum of the Baths of Diocletian that were once the largest baths in Rome. Other landmarks of note are the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma where you can catch opera performances and the giant fountain at Piazza della Repubblica.

Quirinal Hill is the highest of Rome’s seven hills and was named for an early god Quirinus who was worshiped by the Sabine people in a settlement on the hill. The Quirinal Palace on top of the hill has housed many important people over the years; it was the summer residence for popes and home to Italian monarchs and heads of state.

Today, Quirinal Hill remains a fairly posh area. The Quirinal Palace is currently the official seat of the Italian president, with its sprawling compound, an extensive art collection, and beautifully landscaped gardens.

Piazza del Quirinale features the Dioscuri or horse-tamer marble statues, earning it the nickname Monte Cavallo or Horse Hill. Nearby is Palazzo Barberini, where you can check out artistic masterpieces at the National Gallery of Ancient Art, and throw coins into the famous Trevi Fountain.

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