Aventino district in Rome: 7 things to do in the most elegant neighborhood of the capital

Even before Rome was born, the Aventino Hill was chosen by Remus who, fighting with his brother Romulus, chose it as the place from which to scan the sky and see the flight of birds to decide where to found the city. History decreed his defeat and the choice fell on the Palatine Hill. The mythical rivalry between the twins Romulus and Remus became a social rivalry symbolized by the two hills, the Palatine, the hill of the patricians and the Aventino, that of the plebeians. It is from this distant history that the Aventino secession took its name, when in 1924 the Italian deputies, protesting the Matteotti crime, refused to return to the Montecitorio chamber.

If you are in Rome or wish to go there, we suggest you include a visit to the Aventino district in your itinerary, to romantically escape from the noise of the metropolis, treating yourself to a walk, full of pleasant surprises. We have chosen for you 7 things to do in the Aventino district of Rome, we will take you to the famous municipal rose garden and the panoramic gardens to dominate the city at a glance; in the churches of Santa Sabina and San Bonifacio and Alessio often chosen as an evocative setting for weddings, we will then look into the mysterious garden of the Priory of the Knights of Malta with its keyhole. For your visit to Rome, if you have not yet decided, we suggest you consider the Visit Rome Pass, which will allow you to access more than 50 attractions with a single card and includes unlimited access to Rome's public transport.

Our itinerary starts from the municipal rose garden, which represents one of the gateways to the Aventino district coming from the Circus Maximus. Starting your visit with a dip in the greenery and colors of more than a thousand species of roses certainly has something special and the municipal rose garden is one of the magical places of Rome. Entrance to the rose garden is free and open from Monday to Sunday from 8.30am to 7.30pm, but the flowers are not subject to rules, so the rose garden is only open during the rose flowering period, from April to June and sometimes in October.

10,000 square meters of colors and scents are worth organizing a trip during the opening period, alternatively you can always keep it as an idea for your next trip to Rome. The rose species come from all over the world, even from China and Mongolia, among the rarest species Rosa Chinensis Mutabilis, which changes color as the days go by and Rosa Chinensis Virdiflora, with green petals.

After passing the municipal rose garden, the next stop is perhaps the most visited and famous in the Aventino district, the romantic and pleasant Orange Garden offers a panoramic terrace with free access overlooking the beauties of Rome, the best moment especially for those who love photography is certainly the sunset, seeing the dome of Rome and the roofs with the orange and red hues of the setting sun always has a suggestive effect.

The garden is enclosed within the perimeter of large medieval walls of the ancient fortress built by the Savelli family towards the end of the 13th century, while the trees that give the garden its name were planted in memory of San Domenico, the orange tree near which the saint predicted is preserved in the adjacent Basilica of Santa Sabina; the park was built in 1932. 

The Basilica of Santa Sabina is adjacent to the orange garden, of which it once formed a single complex. The Basilica was built in the 5th century on what was the house of the Roman matron Sabina, who later became a Saint. Near the right wall you can see a granite column in memory of the ancient house. The church was subsequently remodeled in 1587 by Domenico Fontana and in 1643 by Francesco Borromini. In 1870 it was transformed into a lazaret and only at the beginning of the 1900s was it restored to its original structure.

In the cloister of the church there is a bitter orange plant, planted in 1220 by San Domenico who founded the order of preaching friars here, the plant is visible through a hole in the wall of the church portico, it is considered a miraculous plant because it continued to bear fruit through other trees reborn on the original and has the primacy of the oldest existing tree in Rome.

The garden of Sant'Alessio takes its name from the church of the same name which is next to it and in walking order you will find it by continuing to walk after the church of Santa Sabina. It is a small garden from which a wonderful panorama of the capital opens, it is less known and frequented than the Orange Garden.

The garden has a nineteenth-century layout with small lawns and shaded by trees. In 1937, a small fountain from the disappeared Palazzo Accoramboni was placed on the left wall and in 1954, the statue of Saint Joan of Arc was placed in a flowerbed, a gift from the French author Maxime Real Del Sarte.

The Basilica of Saints Bonifacio and Alessio, also known as the church of Sant'Alessio all'Aventino, was built between the 4th and 5th centuries commissioned by Pope Honorius III. The church has been remodeled and renovated several times over the centuries; therefore, as will often happen in Rome you will be able to notice styles and decorations belonging to different eras inside and outside.

Given the romantic setting that the Aventino district can offer, the Basilica of Saints Bonifacio and Alessio is among the most chosen for weddings, a suggestive setting also for your photos, immortalize some white dress in memory of your visit to the Aventino district.

A rare gem of the district is the villa of the Priory of Malta, the historic seat of the Grand Priory of Rome of the Knights of Malta. The villa is located on the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, designed in 1756 by Gian Maria Piranesi and is famous for its keyhole from where you will perfectly frame the dome of St. Peter's in the Vatican.

For some years this destination has been overrun by tourists so be prepared to wait in a long queue, but the short moment you will have available will leave you with a unique memory. It is worth knowing that behind the high walls of the villa of the Knights of Malta, one of the most beautiful gardens in Rome is hidden, which however is only accessible on special days, such as FAI days.

The last piece of advice we want to give you is a short walk around the Small Aventino neighborhood, a picturesque neighborhood born at the beginning of the 20th century with public housing, but which today has become as exclusive as the larger and more famous neighborhood opposite. The small Aventino is on the eastern side of the Aventino hill and is full of suggestive corners, stairways decorated with climbing plants and Roman baroque tones.

For a very long period the Basilica of San Saba and its monastery were the only inhabited presence in the neighborhood. The monastery and the Basilica were built around the 7th century, the interior, with three naves, is divided by fourteen columns with various capitals, there are various remains of 13th century frescoes which still retain their original splendor today. The floor is characterized by five large discs of different marbles.

The Aventino district is a romantic and refined destination, here you will find some tips to end your day in style. Thanks to its central location from here it will be very easy to reach the main attractions of Ancient Rome on foot, such as the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill and the Baths of Caracalla and the Circus Maximus, you are also just a few minutes' walk from the famous Mouth of Truth, a destination legendary and playful.

The Aventino district and its surroundings are also excellent places to spend the evening in a romantic way, choose one of the many venues located on Viale Aventino, the large street, at the foot of the neighborhood that connects the Pyramid to the Circus Maximus and the Baths of Caracalla, wineries, restaurants and bistros you will be spoiled for choice, if instead you decide to move to the nearby neighbourhood, choose Testaccio, a neighborhood famous for its evening and nightlife starting from aperitifs and ending with after dinner. Once again, we suggest you consider the Visit Rome Pass, a very useful card to make your visit easier.