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Rome’s views: Giardino degli Aranci on the Aventino hill

Posted on 27 May 2011

An antique legend tells that Rome was built on seven hills which are still nowadays points of panoramic views of the historical beauties of this city.

Between the famous seven hills there is Aventino, a real green and tranquil area inside the city chaos. On this flourishing hill there is one of the nicest gardens in Rome: the so called Giardino degli Aranci, from where you may see an exclusive panorama of the Tevere river, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the typical rooftops of Testaccio area and the roman Churches’ domes.

Giardino degli Aranci or also called Parco Savello was built around the end of 1200 by Savelli’s family. The orange trees are the key feature of this garden which make this garden a paradise corner inside the city. These orange trees were planted in memory of Saint Domenico, who lived and worked in Santa Sabina Basilica, located next to this park.

A story tells that Saint Domenico in 1220 planted here an orange tree, which at that time, was still an unknown fruit in Italy. The strange and curious thing is that this tree, after many centuries, is still living and making fruits through other trees born from the original. This millenary orange tree is situated inside the basilica’s cloister and is still visible through a glass.