Seven Hills of Ancient Rome

Рome is the capital of Italy and one of the oldest cities in the world. Even in ancient times, it earned the titles of Eternal City and the City on Seven Hills.

The seven hills on which Ancient Rome was built lie on the eastern bank of the Tiber River.

These hills are symbols of Rome, separated by relatively deep but narrow valleys. Today’s Rome spans both banks of the Tiber, and twelve hills now lie within the city limits.

However, the history of Rome’s development began on the river’s left bank. The first settled hill was the Palatine—the central one. It was followed by the Esquiline, and later by the northern and northwestern hills—Quirinal and Capitoline. Eventually, Aventine, Viminal, and Caelian Hills were also settled. Once all seven hills were included within the city limits, Romans began celebrating the Festival of the Seven Hills each year on December 11.

The valley where Rome was founded has volcanic origins. The hills rise on average 130–165 feet (40–50 meters) above the Tiber, and their slopes are mostly gentle. In the 3rd century, Emperor Aurelian built a wall around all seven hills in just four years. The wall stretched 11.8 miles (19 km), was 11 feet (3.4 m) thick, and 26 feet (8 m) high. It had 18 gates and 383 towers. During the Gothic invasion, parts of the wall were dismantled, but during the Renaissance it was restored and has remained well preserved to this day.

Palatine Hill

The story of Ancient Rome begins here. According to legend, a basket carrying twin infants—Remus and Romulus—washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine by the Tiber’s waves. These children would later found the Eternal City. It’s believed that the she-wolf’s cave (Lupercal) was located here, where she nursed the brothers. The hill was named after Pales, the goddess who protected shepherds. From the city’s very beginnings, this was where Rome’s rulers lived—kings, emperors, and patricians.

Members of the aristocracy built luxurious residences—domus homes—whose remains can still be admired by tourists today.

Tourists can visit the Palatine Hill with a combined ticket that also includes access to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Notable landmarks on the Palatine include the ruins of imperial palaces, the temples of Apollo, Cybele, and Victory, and the Baths of Septimius Severus. Between the Palaces of Flavius and Nero, a monastery was later established, which now houses the Palatine Museum—Antiquarium del Palatino. This museum features a collection that ranges from primitive tools to works by ancient Roman sculptors (most sculptures are missing body parts).

Recommended reading: Arch of Septimius Severus on the Roman Forum.

Capitoline Hill

The name comes from the Latin word *caput*, meaning “head.” In ancient Roman times, this hill was densely built up with temples. It was here, in the temple of Juno Moneta, that the legendary geese lived—those who famously warned the Romans of an approaching Gallic attack with their honking.

This same temple also housed the first Roman mint, and the coins struck there were called “monetae” in honor of the goddess.

During the reign of Servius Tullius, a wall was built around Capitoline Hill, turning it into a fortified citadel. The highest point on the hill’s southern side was occupied by the Temple of Jupiter. The temple featured three *cellae* (sanctuaries) dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. The Roman Senate would sometimes hold meetings in the central *cella*. Throughout its history, the Temple of Jupiter burned several times, was destroyed, and rebuilt by different emperors. Eventually, collapses in the quarries beneath the temple led to its total destruction—down to the foundations. In the 16th century, the Caffarelli Palace was constructed on its site and today houses the city museum.

In the Middle Ages, the only monumental building on Capitoline Hill was the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, accessed via a staircase of 122 steps, built to commemorate deliverance from the plague. Important! Do not confuse it with the Holy Stairs (Scala Santa) located in the Lateran Palace (Palazzo del Laterano).

In the 12th century, the Roman Senate was reestablished, and Capitoline Hill once again became the administrative center of the city. The hill’s current appearance is owed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who designed its renovation.

READ ABOUT THE CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS

Quirinal Hill

This is the tallest of Rome’s seven hills. It was named after Quirinus, the war god of the ancient Sabines. According to legend, Rome was originally populated only by men. One day, Romulus invited the Sabines to a festival—the Consualia—during which the Romans abducted the Sabine women. A war followed, in which the Sabines defeated the Romans. However, the conflict ended when the Sabine women, who had grown attached to their new families, intervened.

This led to a treaty of eternal peace, under which the Sabine king Titus Tatius became a co-ruler of Rome alongside Romulus.

In 1573, the Quirinal Palace was built. This grand structure served as the pope’s summer residence. It was also the site of the trial of Galileo Galilei. Later, Italian monarchs took up residence there. Since 1948, it has served as the official residence of the President of Italy. Admission to the Quirinal Palace costs adult visitors €5. In front of the palace, in the Quirinal Square, stands the Dioscuri Fountain, designed by architect Raffaele Stern. On the right side of the square is the Palazzo della Consulta, home to the Constitutional Court.

Read more about Gods and Goddesses in Ancient Rome.

Aventine Hill

The hill was named after Aventinus Silvius (Latin: *Aventinus Silvius*), a king who ruled after Romulus. However, another version suggests that the hill was named after Aventinus, an Alban king. Initially, the Aventine was uninhabited, but as the city grew, the area quickly filled with structures. During the Roman Republic, it became a densely populated district, primarily home to plebeians and slaves.

Temples on the Aventine were dedicated to Diana, Mercury, Luna, Vertumnus, and Flora — deities widely revered by the lower classes. In the Imperial era, the neighborhood became wealthier. The aristocracy and affluent citizens began to settle here, and grand bathhouses were built.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Aventine was left deserted. However, in the Middle Ages, new buildings began to rise here once again. By the 17th century, the Aventine had become a prestigious area where ancient structures blended charmingly with luxurious mansions.

Key attractions on the Aventine include the Church of Santa Sabina, the Church of Saints Alexius and Boniface (Santi Alessio e Bonifacio), and the Pyramid of Gaius Cestius. At the very top of the hill lies Savello Park, known to Romans as the Orange Garden. This romantic spot is a favorite among couples, and newlyweds often come here to take photos. From the terrace at the end of the park, visitors enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Tiber River and the Vatican.

Viminal Hill

The “Willow Hill” gets its name from the willow twigs (*Viminalis*) that once covered its slopes. Originally, the hill was inhabited by the Sabines. Viminal Hill, along with the Quirinal, was annexed to Rome after the episode known as the “Rape of the Sabine Women.”

During the Roman Empire, the hill was largely a residential area for the lower class. Among the public structures here were the Baths of Diocletian, an enormous complex covering 32 acres (13 hectares). These baths could accommodate up to 3,200 people and featured gardens, fountains, and a library. Viminal Hill was also home to the Praetorian Guard camp — the personal guard of the emperor.

Today, visitors can see the Viminal Palace — a relatively modern building constructed in 1923. It now houses the Rome Opera House and the Ministry of the Interior.

The area that once held the gardens of the Baths of Diocletian is now the site of Piazza della Repubblica. At the center of the square stands the Fountain of the Naiads, created by Mario Rutelli. Using the ruins of one of the halls of the baths, Michelangelo designed the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built between 1563 and 1566.

Esquiline Hill

The name “Esquiline” is believed to derive from *ex* + *colere*, meaning “outskirts.” The Esquiline forms a plateau with two spurs on its western side: the Cispius and the Oppius. The hill was settled by Romans shortly after the Palatine.

For a long time, the Esquiline was a rather grim place, as it hosted city dumps. Executions were also carried out here, and communal cemeteries for slaves and the poor were located on the hill — deep pits where bodies were discarded. At the order of Emperor Augustus, the cemetery was buried and the land was redeveloped into the magnificent Gardens of Maecenas. Due to the hill’s higher elevation in the eastern part of Rome, it became the central hub of the city’s water distribution system.

Among the attractions on the Esquiline, tourists are particularly drawn to sites of Catholic importance. Of the four papal basilicas in Rome, one — Santa Maria Maggiore — is located on the Esquiline.

According to legend, the basilica was built after the Virgin Mary appeared to Pope Liberius in a dream in August of 352 and told him to erect a church where snow would fall. Snow did fall — and the basilica was built. Other notable churches on the Esquiline include Santa Pudenziana, San Pietro in Vincoli, and Santa Prassede.

Caelian Hill

The hill was named after Caeles Vibenna, an Etruscan noble considered the progenitor of a Roman plebeian family. For a long time, the Caelian was inhabited exclusively by plebeians.

It wasn’t until the 1st century that members of the Roman elite began settling on the hill. The most important religious structure here was the Temple of the Divine Claudius. Although once grand, only a few fragments of this temple remain today. Picturesque and peaceful, Villa Celimontana is a highlight of the Caelian — a public park that carries the legacy of ancient Roman city gardens. It’s an excellent place for a picnic, and the slopes of the hill offer beautiful views.

Jazz ensembles often perform in the park. Along the paths, you’ll find ancient Roman fragments of sarcophagi, tombstones, and capitals. Tucked deep within the park lies a rare monument — the Celimontana Obelisk, a composite obelisk whose upper part is inscribed with hieroglyphs from the era of Ramses II. Also located on the Caelian Hill are: the Basilica of Saints John and Paul (Santi Giovanni e Paolo), the Basilica of Santa Maria in Domnica, the Church of Santo Stefano Rotondo – one of the oldest churches in Rome, the Library of Pope Agapetus I, the Chapel of Sant’Andrea, and the Arch of Dolabella.