Santa Sabina
Rome, Italy
Aventine Keyhole and Orange Garden, Rome
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Photo: Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- Keyhole always; Orange Garden dawn to dusk
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Keyhole
- Gate of the Knights of Malta villa, Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta
- Queue
- 10–30 minutes by day and at sunset; almost none early
- Orange Garden
- Parco Savello, dawn to dusk
- Time needed
- 40–60 minutes with Santa Sabina
- Location
- Aventine Hill; 15 minutes' climb from Circo Massimo metro
Key facts
1765Piranesi designed the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta
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English Wikipedia3 statesin one glance: the Order of Malta, Italy and the Vatican
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Turismo RomaOrder of Maltathe villa is the seat of the Order's Grand Priory
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English WikipediaParco Savellothe Orange Garden's official name, laid out in 1932
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English Wikipedia1 of 7the Aventine is one of Rome's seven hills
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English WikipediaThe Aventine keyhole
On the quiet Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, designed in 1765 by the engraver-architect Giovanni Battista Piranesi, stands the green gate of the villa of the Knights of Malta's Grand Priory. The gate stays shut — but bend to the keyhole and you'll see a perfect picture: an avenue of clipped trees framing the dome of St Peter's.
It's said you see three states at once: standing in Italy, looking across the Order of Malta's extraterritorial grounds, to a dome in the Vatican. Photographing it on a phone takes patience — press the lens right to the hole, turn off the flash and give the autofocus a moment to find the distant dome.
The Orange Garden
Two minutes away is the Orange Garden, officially Parco Savello: an avenue of bitter-orange trees leads to a terrace over the Tiber with one of Rome's best panoramas — the domes of the centre, Trastevere, the Janiculum and St Peter's in the distance. At sunset it fills up, but there's room for everyone.
The garden was laid out in 1932 inside the walls of the Savelli family's medieval fortress. Legend says St Dominic planted Italy's first orange tree here; a descendant is shown in the neighbouring convent of Santa Sabina.
What to see on the Aventine
- The keyhole — St Peter's dome at the end of the avenue.
- Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta — Piranesi's walls of obelisks and trophies.
- Orange Garden — the terrace panorama.
- Santa Sabina — a 5th-century basilica beside the garden.
- Sant'Alessio — a church with a Baroque courtyard nearby.
- Rome's Rose Garden — on the slope towards the Circus Maximus, open in spring.
- Quiet lanes — villas and gardens in one of Rome's greenest districts.
How to get to the Aventine
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Santa Sabina is about 4 min away on foot.
- Mouth of Truth is about 14 min away on foot.
- Circus Maximus is about 12 min away on foot.
More tips
- Metro line B to Circo Massimo, then 15 minutes uphill along Via di Valle Murcia past the Rose Garden.
- Buses 23 and 280 to Lungotevere Aventino, then 10 minutes up the steps.
- From the Mouth of Truth, 10 minutes up Clivo di Rocca Savella.
- From Trastevere, cross Ponte Sublicio — 15–20 minutes.
Is the Aventine worth it?
Yes — free, peaceful and beautiful: Rome without crowds, all villas, gardens and convents. The keyhole is a one-minute thrill you won't forget, and the Orange Garden terrace is one of the city's great sunset spots. With Santa Sabina, it's an ideal evening walk after the Circus Maximus.
Before you go
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Rome viewpoints: compare and choose
Places in Rome with a view, rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Colosseum | 73 | 2 h | ≈ €18 | 25 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Peter's Basilica | 71 | 1 h 30 min | Free; dome ≈ €8–15 | 2.9 km |
| Roman Forum | 63 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 20 min walk |
| Circus Maximus | 63 | 30 min | Free | 13 min walk |
| Spanish Steps | 62 | 20 min | Free | 44 min walk |
| Vittoriano | 61 | 1 h | Terraces free; lift ≈ €12–18 | 23 min walk |
| Capitoline Hill | 58 | 30 min | Free | 20 min walk |
| Castel Sant'Angelo | 57 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €15–20 | 41 min walk |
| Palatine Hill | 54 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 16 min walk |
| Quirinal Palace | 50 | 1 h 15 min | Square free; tours by booking | 35 min walk |
| Villa Borghese | 48 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 3.4 km |
| Tempietto | 45 | 20 min | Free | 19 min walk |
| Capitoline Museums | 43 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ €15–19.50 | 20 min walk |
| Pincio | 43 | 40 min | Free | 3.1 km |
| Aventine Keyholeyou are here | 42 | 45 min | Free | — |
| Villa Medici | 38 | 1 h 30 min | Paid, scheduled tours | 2.8 km |
Palatine to Aventine
The Palatine on your Colosseum ticket, then down to the Circus Maximus, the Mouth of Truth and up the Aventine to the keyhole.
- Palatine Hill1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- 5 min walk from the previous stopCircus Maximus30 min · Free
- 7 min walk from the previous stopMouth of Truth20 min · Donation ≈ €2
- 10 min walk from the previous stopAventine Keyholeyou are here45 min · Free
4 places · about 3 h 27 min with walks · 22 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Early morning means almost no queue.
- Press the camera flat to the keyhole, flash off.
- Sunset belongs to the Orange Garden terrace.
- Santa Sabina next door is free.
Questions
Where is the Rome keyhole?
On the Aventine Hill, in the gate of the Knights of Malta villa on Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta.
What can you see through the keyhole?
The dome of St Peter's at the end of an avenue of clipped trees.
Is it free?
Yes — both the keyhole and the Orange Garden.
When is the Orange Garden open?
From dawn to dusk.
How do I get to the Aventine?
Metro B to Circo Massimo, then a 15-minute walk uphill.
When is the best time to go?
Early morning for no queue, or an hour before sunset to finish at the Orange Garden.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia, Villa del Priorato di Malta, Aventine Hill and Parco Savello
- Turismo Roma: Giardino degli Aranci
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