Esquilino

This walk offers an ideal combination of antiquity and modern urban life. The area around Termini Central Station was once the largest bath complex in Rome. Piazza della Repubblica is reminiscent of this time, and museums Terme di Diocleziano and Palazzo Massimo feature everything about its history. Palazzo Massimo is adjacent to Viminal Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome. 



Another hill in this neighborhood is Esquiline, with the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica as its beacon. This is also where you'll find the San Pietro in Vincoli church, which houses the famous statue of Moses by Michelangelo.

Monti was once a neighborhood filled with brothels, cheap taverns, and craftsmen's workshops. The studios are still here, though they are now occupied by artists and designers. The taverns have been transformed into modern wine bars and the cobbled streets are lined with boutiques and trattorias.

The first thing you'll notice on Piazza Venezia is the Vittoriano: this impressive white building is often sardonically referred to as “the wedding cake.” On Capitoline Hill you'll find the Musei Capitolini, with no less than 1,300 works of art. Piazza del Campidoglio, where the museum complex is located, was designed by Michelangelo and offers a stunning view of the Roman Forum.

Via dei Fori Imperiali, built against Caelian Hill, leads from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. The fearless gladiators who fought here in ancient times are legendary. Until recently, the area was swamped with men in gladiator costumes, trolling for business from tourists, but this practice has since been banned.