Rome has a special place in our hearts, as we were married in the Eternal City over four decades ago. Like pilgrims, we have returned many times to this bustling and exciting city. It’s always a delight for us to revisit the Colonna Chapel in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
We usually stay at the same hotel in Aventino, just south of the city centre. There, we can stroll through quiet streets, meet the many cats that “live in freedom” (the description given by the municipal by-law that protects them), visit the local churches or sit on a bench in a public garden and enjoy the views provided by the elevation.
The Aventine hill is one of the seven hills of Ancient Rome. The earliest residents of the district were the poor of the city, however, at the height of the Roman Empire, the district attracted the wealthy who built impressive villas. Although it is still an upscale residential neighbourhood today, some of Aventino’s splendid ochre-coloured villas have become hotels, schools, and headquarters of religious organizations. There are also, at the base of the hill, interesting ruins, monuments, gardens and even a very special cemetery.
Several roads and old pedestrian paths lead to the top of Aventino. While some guests might be daunted by the idea of walking up the hill to reach their hotel, it is well worth the effort. During the month of May, each step makes one breathe even deeper that wonderful fragrance from the abundant jasmine in bloom. We have come to call this oasis of peace “Heaventino.”
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