Things to do in  Aventine Hill

One of the legendary seven hills on which Rome was built, Aventine Hill (Aventino) features prominently in the Eternal City’s founding myth (it’s the hill that Remus is said to have chosen). A quiet residential district, Aventine Hill offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as sweeping views of the rooftops of Rome and St. Peter’s Basilica, including through a keyhole on the gate to the Knights of Malta.

Rome’s Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo)—a massive arena for chariot races, gladiator games, religious ceremonies, and civic events—could once hold an audience of 150,000, making it the largest hippodrome in the Roman Empire. Built during Julius Caesar’s reign, on the plain between the Aventine and Palatine hills, the arena is now a public park and archaeological site comprising arched stadium walkways, ancient shops and inns, and the circus track’s oblong outline and starting gates.

The Piazza della Bocca della Verità, a square set between the Tiber River and Circus Maximus in central Rome, is perhaps most famous for its Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth). Featured in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, this massive, ancient marble mask is one of Rome’s top photo ops, located beneath the portico of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. But don’t come here for the sculpture alone—there are other attractions to enjoy.

The Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla) were one of ancient Rome’s most luxurious thermal complexes, with saunas, swimming pools, sports facilities, and even libraries for both the imperial elite and everyday Romans. Built in 212 during the reign of Emperor Caracalla, the vast leisure center has lost its marble splendor but still stands in impressively preserved ruins, which you can visit on a tour of Rome’s ancient highlights.