Rome and the story of its seven hills 

All of you are aware of the lasting legacy of the ancient city of Rome that was built more than 6000 years ago by two brothers, Romulus and Remus. You also know that Romulus murdered Remus and named the city after himself. But are you aware of the nickname of this legendary city? Well, Rome is also known as The City of Seven Hills. Why? Because this ancient city was built on and around seven hills: Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian and Aventine. All of them form the core of the modern Italian capital. Presently, they look more like land ridges than mountains due to constructions and developments through centuries. Each of these hills is loaded with history. Let’s take a trip through them and revisit history.  

Esquiline 
Largest of the seven hills, legends have it that this hill came into fame when Roman emperor Nero built his ‘golden house’ or ‘domus aurea’ upon it. However, before he claimed it, the hill was mainly used as a dumping and burial site for the poor. In fact, for health reasons, Rome’s first emperor Augustus specifically chose this high ground as the ideal burial site and even made a park on it called ‘Gardens of Maecenas’. This was nothing but a graveyard, meant for prisoners. Interestingly, the Colossus (original Colosseum), Temple of Claudius and Baths of Trojan were all situated on the Esquiline hill.  

Palatine 
Regarded as the central hill among the seven hills of Rome, at one point in ancient history, it was joined with Esquiline and Viminal. Palatine was the first hill to turn into a human settlement and has a height of only 51 metres, spread across 25 acres. For its historical significance, much of the hill has been left unearthed. However, whatever was excavated revealed signs of iron age dwellings and tombstones. It is closest to the river Tiber and houses the famous Temple of Apollo, temples of Victory and the Great Mother and the residence of emperors Augustus, Tiberius and Domitian. The Lupercal cave, discovered in 2007, is also at the foot of this hill. 

Aventine 
Legend has it that when brothers Romulus and Remus had landed on Palatine hill, Romulus called dibs on it. This is when Remus went in search of another hill and found Aventine and decided to call it home. Today, Aventine is regarded as a foreign hill due to the concentration of temples dedicated to foreign deities (such as the Greek goddess Diana) built upon it. Aventine is also significant as it had Rome’s first ever library, Asinius Pollio’s library.  

Capitoline 
Smallest of the seven hills, Capitoline is regarded as the heart of Rome and is only 46 metres in elevation. It was on Capitoline that the city’s most ancient wall or the Servian Wall was built. It also housed the government of Romulus and used as a citadel subsequently. Interestingly, the name of the hill is derived from ‘caput’ or the legendary human skull that was found buried underneath. Sources also cite that the hill was landscaped by Michelangelo and is full of Renaissance art and architecture.  

Quirinal 
Northernmost and thus highest of the seven hills, Quirinal is not as popular as its sister hills. However, it was the home of Rome’s second emperor Numa and is the seat of the President of Italy in present times, who lives in Palazzo del Quirinale or the Palace of Quirinal. It is one of the largest palaces worldwide and was once the residence of the Pope (30 Popes, 4 emperors and 12 Presidents have lived in it, so far).  

Viminal 
Viminal is small and insignificant as compared to other hills and is sandwiched between Esquiline and Quirinal hills. However, legends have it that it was the bathing and praying site for ancient Roman emperors. Ruins of Baths of Caracalla and Baths of Diocletian, and three notable churches such as three-tiered Basilica di San Clemente, the round Santo Stefano Rotondo and the perched Basilica dei Santi Quattro Coronati are all located here.  

Caelian 
It is the southernmost of all the seven hills and is described as a tongue-shaped hill, 2 kilometres in length and 400 to 500 metres in width. While the Servian Wall begun and spread all across the Capitoline hill, it ended on Caelian. Due to its low altitude, Caelian has always been favoured by people. As a result, it was densely populated until a fire broke out in 27 BC. It was secured only for the royal family.