Monti Neighborhood

Monti Neighborhood

Monti is one of the neighborhoods of Rome that has kept its own identity, with proud Romans, and a somewhat mysterious character between its stairs and narrow streets, which are at times surprisingly deserted.
The streets come alive in the evening around Via dei Serpenti and the small fountain in Piazza della Madonna dei Monti, where there are many small restaurants and bars.
Its name derives from the several small hills on the slopes of which it extends, between the Imperial Forums with the great avenue of the Fori Imperiali, the Esquilin Hill towards the east which joins Saint-Mary Major then the Piazza Vittorio-Emanuele II, the slopes of the Viminale and those of the Quirinal to the west. In antiquity, a large wall separated the imperial forums of the district then designated as Suburra, the underworld of the ancient time, with its gambling dens, brothels and criminals.

Piazza della Madonna dei Monti

Beyond its pleasant atmosphere in the evening, Monti has interesting churches. One must see in particular the Moses sculpted by Michelangelo in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains. This sculpture exudes strength with the expertise of the artist in reproduction of anatomy, and “light” with the horns of Moses!
As for Saint Praxedes basilica, it is a church that preserves extraordinary and large Byzantine mosaics, perhaps the most beautiful in Rome with the Saint Zenon Chapel which is covered with it. It is near the latter that is the grandiose Basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of the most interesting buildings in Rome.

The eastern part of the district extends on the Oppius Hill, close to the Colosseum and the place where Nero built his sumptuous golden palace. It is less frequented, with the park of the Baths of Trajan which are not the most beautiful in the city, a medieval tower and next to the church of San Martino ai Monti (Saints Sylvester & Martin in the Mountains). In its underground, we discover a fascinating place, a titulus, one of the first places of Christian worship that was in a house.

Hotels and rooms

• Good accommodation sorted BY DISTANCE from Piazza Santa Maria ai Monti
• Good accommodation sorted BY PRICE (for 2 adults) less than 800 meters from Piazza Santa Maria ai Monti

Photo gallery

Map of Madonna dei Monti Square