The Pincio

After a brief look at the water clock, (a curiosity of this park), we stop on the great terrace known as the Piazzale Napoleone I. The Pincio Garden, as it now appears, was laid out by order of Napoleon Bonaparte, around the villa he built for his son, the King of Rome. In Roman times this area was owned by the Pinci family, and here were the gardens of Lucullus.

From this terrace we enjoy one of the famous views of Rome, dominated by St. Peter's dome. Below the terrace lies the beautiful Piazza del Popolo, its center marked by the Egyptian obelisk which Augustus brought to Rome two thousand years ago, when it already was an antique, for it dates from the thirteenth century B.C. Down on the left are the twin Churches by Rainaldi, Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli, while on the right is the much more interesting church of Santa Maria del Popolo, one of the museum churches of Rome. There are works by most eminent artists, such as Bramante, Bregno, Pinturicchio, Raphael, Sansovino, Caravaggio, etc. This is the church where Martin Luther celebrated his first Roman Mass. In the distance you discover several highlights of Rome; if you have extra time it would be worth coming to Monte Pincio to watch the sun setting behind St. Peter's.

On leaving the Pincio we'll pass by the Villa Medici, built by Annibale Lippi in 1554 for Cardinal Ricci and then bought by a Cardinal Ferdinando de' Medici in 1580; it was sold to Napoleon in 1803 and it houses the French Academy. In the Villa Medici Galileo was held by the Inquisition.

As we pass the church of Trinita dei Monti, founded by King Charles VIII of France, we can look down over the Spanish Steps and, continuing through via Sistina, the street built by Sixtus V, which leads to Santa Maria Maggiore, we drive as far as Piazza Barberini, where there are two charming fountains by I Bernini: the Fountain of the Triton, a sea monster blowing a conch and seated on an open sea shell, and the Fountain of the Bees, Fontana delle Api.

Rome History Culture Map Travel Tips Arriving Hotels Restaurants Attractions Borghese The Pincio The Spanish Steps Campo Marzio and Pizza Navona The Pantheon St.Peter's Square St Peter's Basilica Vatican Museums Courtyard of Belvedere The Stanzas The Sistine Chapel The Ceiling The Final Judgement The Library The Quirinal Trevi Fountain Piazza Venezia The Capitol The Forum The Colosseum San Paolo fuori le Mura Santa Maria Maggiore S-Pietro in Vincoli Scala Santa and San Giovanni in Laterano Baths of Caracalla and the Ancient Appian Way The Catacombs Hadrian's Villa Villa d'Este