GIANICOLO

Description

Essentials about the Gianicolo in brief

If you have a little time for your visit to Rome, want to enjoy one of the best views of the city and see a number of rather unknown sights, you should hike up the Gianicolo. Located in the Trastevere district along the right bank of the Tiber River, Gianicolo is the highest elevation in the city and is often referred to as the “eighth hill of Rome”. Like the Pincian Hill, which lies to the north of the city, Gianicolo is not one of the seven actual hills on which ancient Rome was built.

The geography and the history of the Gianicolo

The name of the Gianicolo comes from the ancient Roman god Janus, who, according to legend, built a castle on the hill. This was already a ruin even in mythical prehistory. With its 82 meters of height, the Gianicolo already in ancient Rome was of strategic importance for the control and defense of the city. When the Aurelian Wall was built around Rome in the 3rd century, it also ran up the Gianicolo to include the mills there, which were used for grinding grain.

The Gianicolo experienced its most historically significant hour in 1849, when the memorable battle took place between the Italian freedom fighters led by Giuseppe Garibaldi and French troops called to help by Pope Pius IX against the newly founded Roman Republic. Although the French outnumbered Garibaldi’s troops, the latter were able to stand up to the French army for two months. This event led to the construction of a series of monuments on the hill in honor of Garibaldi and his comrades, who played a key role in the creation of a united Italy.

The Garibaldi equestrian statues

The main monument is the huge equestrian statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, erected in honor of his heroic deeds on the highest point of the Gianicolo in 1895. Four statues on the large pedestal depict both a battle and allegorical scenes. An inscription on the pedestal proclaims “Roma o Morte” (“Rome or Death”).

Giuseppe Garibaldi’s wife Anita, who fought alongside him, was also honored with an equestrian statue. The monument, created in 1932, depicts Anita Garibaldi in pure Wild West style: She sits astride a prancing horse, with a pistol in her right hand and her newborn child in her left. And yet another monument on the Gianicolo honors Italian patriots. A rectangular white marble monument with arches, also bearing the inscription “Roma o Morte”, honoring the soldiers who gave their lives in the Italian wars of independence between 1848 and 1870.

The Gianicolo Lighthouse

A completely different and rather surprising sight on the top of the hill is the Faro Al Gianicolo (“Gianicolo Lighthouse”), a lighthouse built in 1911, a gift to Rome from Italian immigrants in Argentina. The structure is also known as Manfredi Lighthouse after its creator Manfredo Manfredi.

The Fontana dell’Acqua Paola

At the southern end of the Gianicolo stands the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola, one of the most beautiful fountains in Rome (and the city is really rich in fountains). The baroque fountain was built in 1612 for Pope Paul V and also named after him. Sad detail is that the fountain was built of marble from the Roman Forum, leading to the destruction of the Temple of Minerva, which was largely intact until that time.

The Orto Botanico

Hobby botanists also get their money’s worth on the Gianicolo. On the eastern slope of the hill is the Orto Botanico, a twelve-hectare botanical garden built in the 19th century. In addition to several thousand species of plants, the garden also features some interesting structures such as an old greenhouse, a monumental staircase and two fountains. However, the botanical garden is not accessible from the Gianicolo – the main entrance is on the east side at the foot of the hill, near Palazzo Corsini.

Other attractions on the Gianicolo

Even the Romans themselves like to spend their time in the greenery of the Gianicolo, picnicking or taking a Sunday stroll. For children there are pony rides and puppet shows, gelato and tramezzini, and souvenir stores with all sorts of odds and ends. And last but not least, of course, from Rome’s highest hill you can enjoy one of the best views of the Eternal City. The Romans themselves love the large and hidden small panoramic terraces of the hill. Especially in the morning, when the sun rises in the east, if the weather is good, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Rome lying at your feet, the nearby Alban Hills and the contours of the mountain ranges of Lazio in the distant background.