Janiculum Hill Has Some Of The Best Views In All Of Rome

Janiculum Hill is a great place to see some of the best views in Rome, a historical temple, one of my favorite fountains in the city and tributes to Garibaldi.

Janiculum Hill - La Fontana dell'Acqua Paola — La Fontana dell’Acqua Paola

Janiculum hill is one of the most beautiful spots in Rome that is a little off the beaten path because of the climb that can be a little taxing. The views and beauty of the area are definitely worth the effort and here are some of the most frequently asked questions that I hope will convince you that it is worth your time.

What Is Janiculum Hill In Rome?

Janiculum (Gianicolo) Hill is the second tallest hill in the modern city of Rome and has one of the most breathtaking views of Rome that you will find in the city. The hill takes its name from an ancient city that was named after the god Janus. In more modern times, it was the site of a battle between Garibaldi and French forces who were fighting to restore the power of the Papacy over Rome.

What Are The Seven Hills Of Rome?

The 7 Hills of Rome are the geographical heart of the city within the protective Aurelian walls that provided security for the residents. These Seven Hills are now the sites of monuments, historical buildings and parks that range from beautiful to a bit neglected. The Seven Hills in Rome are called:

Aventine Hill (Aventino)
Caelian Hill (Celio)
Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio)
Esquiline Hill (Esquilino)
Palatine Hill (Palatino)
Quirinal Hill (Quirinale)
Viminal Hill (Viminale)

You may notice that Janiculum Hill is not on the list of the Seven Hills or Rome, and that is because it is on the west side of the Tiber river, and thus outside the borders of Ancient Rome.

Janiculum Hill - Amazing Views — Amazing Views

Where Is The Janiculum Hill And Why Is It An Important Location?

Janiculum Hill is west of the Tiber river and rises above Trastevere. It is south of the Vatican and has striking views of Rome that can be enjoyed day and night. Some of the interesting sites to see are the Garibaldi monument, the Aqua Paola Fountain (Fontana dell’Acqua Paola) and the small temple of Bramante (Il Tempietto del Bramante). The Bramante temple and the fountain were featured in the movie, La Grande Bellezza.

Who Was Giuseppe Garibaldi?

When you travel around Italy, you will probably notice that there is a major street named Garibaldi in almost every city and town in the country. Giuseppe Garibaldi was a soldier, Italian patriot and a celebrated hero. He is celebrated all over the country because of his military campaign that successfully united the country in the mid-1800s under the royal house of Savoy (Savoia).

Janiculum Hill - Garibaldi Monument — Garibaldi Monument

What Does Acqua Paola Mean?

One of my favorite sites to visit on Janiculum Hill is the monumental fountain known as La Fontana dell’Acqua Paola. The fountain was designed by Giovanni Fontana, which I find curious because of his last name. I do need to learn more about the Fonatana family to better understand if he chose this name because of his profession or if it is just an amazing coincidence. However, returning to the question about the name of the fountain, it was built in the 17th century and it is the end of the Acqua Paola aqueduct. The aqueduct termination spots are typically ornate fountains, much like Trevi Fountain.

How Are The Fountains Of Rome Powered?

As I mentioned briefly above, aqueduct termination spots are typically made into highly decorated fountains, much like Trevi Fountain. They aren’t really “powered”, but they rely on gravity to carry water from the mountains around Rome through the pipes around the city and are made available for safe drinking and amazing fountains.

What Is The Fountain Of Venditti’s Song?

If you are not familiar with it, singer Antonello Venditti has a well-known song: “Roma Capoccia” which references a fountain in the opening line:

“How beautiful you are, Rome, when it is evening when the moon is reflected in the great fountain”

The fountain is called Fontanone, which translates to big/great fountain, which was the other name for the fountain of Aqua Paola.

Why Is There A Lighthouse In Rome?

The Janiculum Hill is one of the most beautiful spots in the city, and one of the most surprising facts is the Lighthouse of the Italians in Argentina. Built in 1911 by the architect Manfredo Manfredi, it is not used for navigation but more a symbol of where the battles for the defense of the Roman Republic took place. It was donated to the city by the ex-patriot community of Italians that live in Buenos Aires as a testimony of their bond with Italy.

Janiculum Hill - Tempietto del Bramante — Tempietto del Bramante

Why Did Bramante Intend To Build The Temple Of San Pietro In Montorio?

The small temple of San Pietro in Montorio was designed by Donato Bramante and it is considered an amazing example of Renaissance Italian architecture. The spot for the small tempo was chosen because at the time it was believed to be the exact spot that St. Peter was crucified. This crucifixion site was later updated to a burial ground near Nero’s circus, which is at the foot of Vatican hill.

How Do I Get To Janiculum Hill?

One good destination point would be to head to Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi. To get there you have two options:

You can first travel to Trastevere’s main station on the #64 bus, or the #3 bus/tram. From there you can take to #115 or #870 buses to the Piazzale.
The second option would be to travel to the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele stop on the #40 bus and change to the #870 or #115 at the Paola stop to the Piazzale.

More Amazing Rome Sites

If you enjoyed reading about the history and beauty of Janiculum Hill, you might also enjoy some of these other posts that highlight the beauty of Rome.