Rome – Trastevere-Borgo-Prati

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Trastevere-Borgo-Prati is the area of the center of Rome located west of the Tiber river. Trastevere is known as a vibrant artistic center and also includes the Janiculum hill. Borgo and Prati are the two rioni located near Vatican City.

✪ Castel Sant’Angelo

Also known as: Mausoleum of Hadrian (Mausoleo di Adriano)

Castel Sant’Angelo is a large fort located along the Tiber river in Rome. The circular building was erected in the 2nd century as a mausoleum for Roman emperor Hadrian, and was turned into a fortress starting in the 5th century. The structure later became a papal castle, and was linked to the Vatican with a fortified passageway called Passetto di Borgo. The building was reworked and expanded various times, and was also used as a prison. Now Castel Sant’Angelo serves as a museum and features several richly frescoed and decorated halls with various artworks. In front of the building is Ponte Sant’Angelo, also built in the 2nd century and later adorned with Renaissance and Baroque sculptures.

✪ Villa Farnesina

Villa Farnesina is a Renaissance villa built along the Tiber river in Rome in the early 16th century. The palace is surrounded by a lush garden, and features various richly frescoed halls. Among these, the Loggia di Psiche and the Sala di Galatea house some works by Raphael, while the Sala delle Prospettive features trompe-l’œil frescoes by Baldassarre Peruzzi.

✪ Palazzo Corsini

Palazzo Corsini is a large palace located next to Villa Farnesina in Rome. Originally erected in the 17th century, it was reworked in the 18th century and now it hosts the seat of the Accademia dei Lincei, one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions in Europe. The palace hosts the Galleria Corsini, a section of the National Gallery of Ancient Art, with the other half of the collection displayed in Palazzo Barberini, in the rione of Trevi. Here are hosted works by Fra Angelico, Caravaggio, Rubens, Reni, and many other artists.

✪ Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is the main religious site in the neighborhood of Trastevere, and one of the oldest churches in Rome. Founded in the 3rd century as a small place of worship, the first church here was erected in the 4th century, while the current Romanesque structure dates from the 12th century. The facade of the church features a portico and a large medieval mosaic. Inside, the church hosts various decorations and artworks, including the Madonna della Clemenza, a panel painting from the Early Middle Ages. A large cycle of Byzantine-style mosaics dating from the 12th and 13th century adorns the apse of the church. The basilica faces Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, a square adorned with a medieval fountain.

Church of Sacro Cuore del Suffragio

The Church of Sacro Cuore del Suffragio is a church located along the Tiber river in Rome. Built in the early 20th century, it features an elaborate Gothic Revival facade adorned with sculptures and reliefs. Adjacent to the church is the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory (Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio), a peculiar museum showcasing a collection of documents about supposed appearances of the souls of Purgatory.

Historical Museum of the Carabinieri

The Historical Museum of the Carabinieri (Museo Storico dell’Arma dei Carabinieri) is a museum in Rome dedicated to the Carabinieri, an Italian military force and law enforcement agency. The museum houses numerous documents, artworks, and memorabilia related to the Carabinieri.

Janiculum

The Janiculum (Gianicolo) is a hill located west of the Tiber river in Rome. At the top of the hill is a square featuring a monument dedicated to Garibaldi, who fought the French army here during the revolution of the Roman Republic in 1849. Here is also a panoramic terrace with a great view over the center of Rome. Numerous other statues and monuments are located on the hill, including an equestrian monument of Garibaldi’s wife Anita.

Botanical Garden of Rome

The Botanical Garden of Rome (Orto Botanico di Roma) is the botanical garden of the Sapienza University of Rome, located along the slopes of the Janiculum hill behind Palazzo Corsini. The current garden was established in 1883, when it was moved here from its previous location. The park hosts thousands of species of trees and plants from all over the world.

Porta San Pancrazio

Porta San Pancrazio is a city gate that once formed part of the Aurelian Walls of Rome, and was rebuilt in the 19th century. This gate was the site of a battle during the revolution of the Roman Republic in 1849, and saw the Italian army passing through it while capturing Rome in 1870. Now, a museum dedicated to Garibaldi and the Roman Republic is hosted here.

Fontana dell’Acqua Paola

The Fontana dell’Acqua Paola is a monumental fountain on the Janiculum hill in Rome. The large marble fountain is adorned with various sculptures and it was built in the 17th century to mark the end of the Acqua Paola aqueduct.

Church of San Pietro in Montorio

The Church of San Pietro in Montorio is a church located at the southern edge of the Janiculum hill in Rome. Founded around the 9th century, the church was rebuilt during the Renaissance and adorned with numerous artworks. Adjacent to the church is the Tempietto (“Small Temple”), a small circular temple designed by Bramante, regarded as a noteworthy example of Renaissance architecture.

Mausoleo Ossario Garibaldino

The Mausoleo Ossario Garibaldino is a war memorial on the Janiculum hill in Rome, next to the Church of San Pietro in Montorio. The monument also serves as a mausoleum and ossuary, and hosts the remains of various figures of the Italian Risorgimento, including Goffredo Mameli, the author of the lyrics of the Italian national anthem.

Museum of Rome in Trastevere

The Museum of Rome in Trastevere (Museo di Roma in Trastevere) is a museum hosted in a former monastery in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome. Its collection is focused on Roman life and society in the 18th and 19th century, and houses a collection of artworks, documents, and objects related to this period. Another section of the Museum of Rome is located in Palazzo Braschi, in the Centro Storico of Rome.

Ponte Sisto

Ponte Sisto is a bridge over the Tiber river originally erected in the Roman age, and rebuilt during the 15th century. The bridge features inscriptions dedicated to Pope Sixtus IV, who commissioned its construction, and a peculiar opening on its central spandrel.

Basilica of San Crisogono

The Basilica of San Crisogono is an ancient church in Rome, founded in the 4th century. Later restored and rebuilt, the church features a Romanesque bell tower and Baroque decorations. The archaeological area underneath the church houses some medieval frescoes and a richly decorated ancient Roman sarcophagus.

Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere

The Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is a church in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome, originally erected in the 5th century, and later reworked a few times. The church features a 17th-century facade and a courtyard, while the interior hosts various artworks, including some medieval frescoes and mosaics. The basilica also houses an elaborate ciborium made by Arnolfo di Cambio and a sculpture of Saint Cecilia by Stefano Maderno, considered a masterpiece of Baroque art. Underneath the church is a decorated crypt.

Church of San Francesco a Ripa

The Church of San Francesco a Ripa is a church in Rome dedicated to Saint Francis, who stayed in the adjacent convent. The current church was built in the 17th century in Baroque style and it is adorned with various artworks, including the elaborate funerary monument of Ludovica Albertoni sculpted by Bernini.