The Orange Garden (“il giardino degli aranci” in Italian), also known as Parco Savello, is located on the Aventine Hill in Rome. This offers one of the best panoramic views of the city, but the park also contains other points of interest.
The Orange Garden takes its name, of course, from its numerous orange trees. In ancient times, there was a fortress built by the Savelli family, which is why the second name is Parco Savello.
The park as we see it today was created only in the 1930s by the architect, Raffaele De Vico, as a new belvedere. So not only could the Dominican monks from the nearby church enjoy the view from the Hill, but all kind of Roman public.
The Orange Garden itself has a symmetrical plan and its small streets are named after famous Italian actors or directors. In the central square of the park, there is a beautiful fountain named after Fiorenzo Fiorentini, an actor who was a symbol of “romanità”, the Roman spirit. The main street of the park was named after Nino Manfredi when the Roman actor died. At the end of the main street, you will see a terrace of white marble that offers a splendid view of several important Roman places: the Vatican, Tiber, Roman Forum and Vittoriano.
On leaving the park, you will see a church on your right. This is the Basilica of Saint Sabina, founded in the Vth century on the Aventine Hill and built above the tomb of the saint. This basilica is considered the oldest in Rome and still retains its original rectangular form with a colonnade.
After the church, if you continue straight on, you will find a small square called Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. This square is surrounded by walls so you cannot see all the buildings of the Maltese order and other papal structures situated there. The main attraction of this square is the Hole of Rome (“il buco di Roma”) – a hole in the gates of the wall. If you look through this hole, you will see an incredible view of the cupola of Saint Peter of the Vatican. After the gates is a line of trees, so you see the cupola at the end of this gallery. This wonderful place was depicted in the Oscar-winning Italian film “The Great Beauty” by Paolo Sorrentino.
To see the last "surprise" of the park and start your journey to the next point, please return to the Garden's entrance and continue on the same street that leads you directly to the small Garden of Roses situated at the foot of the Aventine Hill. From the very foot of the Hill, it is also possible to see the Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum from another side.
The Orange Garden takes its name, of course, from its numerous orange trees. In ancient times, there was a fortress built by the Savelli family, which is why the second name is Parco Savello.
The park as we see it today was created only in the 1930s by the architect, Raffaele De Vico, as a new belvedere. So not only could the Dominican monks from the nearby church enjoy the view from the Hill, but all kind of Roman public.
The Orange Garden itself has a symmetrical plan and its small streets are named after famous Italian actors or directors. In the central square of the park, there is a beautiful fountain named after Fiorenzo Fiorentini, an actor who was a symbol of “romanità”, the Roman spirit. The main street of the park was named after Nino Manfredi when the Roman actor died. At the end of the main street, you will see a terrace of white marble that offers a splendid view of several important Roman places: the Vatican, Tiber, Roman Forum and Vittoriano.
On leaving the park, you will see a church on your right. This is the Basilica of Saint Sabina, founded in the Vth century on the Aventine Hill and built above the tomb of the saint. This basilica is considered the oldest in Rome and still retains its original rectangular form with a colonnade.
After the church, if you continue straight on, you will find a small square called Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. This square is surrounded by walls so you cannot see all the buildings of the Maltese order and other papal structures situated there. The main attraction of this square is the Hole of Rome (“il buco di Roma”) – a hole in the gates of the wall. If you look through this hole, you will see an incredible view of the cupola of Saint Peter of the Vatican. After the gates is a line of trees, so you see the cupola at the end of this gallery. This wonderful place was depicted in the Oscar-winning Italian film “The Great Beauty” by Paolo Sorrentino.
To see the last "surprise" of the park and start your journey to the next point, please return to the Garden's entrance and continue on the same street that leads you directly to the small Garden of Roses situated at the foot of the Aventine Hill. From the very foot of the Hill, it is also possible to see the Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum from another side.
