In ancient times, this little park on the slopes of the Gianicolo (Gianicolo Hill) was believed to be a sanctuary dedicated to nymphs. It's equally enchanting today: cherubs and sphinxes adorn its fountains, and exotic flora and topiaries shaped to resemble animals grace its grounds.
©Alexander Bruzzese/Lonely Planet
Villa Sciarra
Trastevere & Gianicolo
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.65 MILES
Founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century and enlarged by successive pontiffs, the Vatican Museums boast one of the world's greatest art…
1.44 MILES
Everyone wants to see the Colosseum, and it doesn’t disappoint, especially if accompanied by tales of armored gladiators and hungry lions. More than any…
1.39 MILES
In the city of outstanding churches, none can hold a candle to St Peter's, Italy’s largest, richest and most spectacular basilica. Built atop a 4th…
1.22 MILES
An impressive – if rather confusing – sprawl of ruins, the Roman Forum was ancient Rome's showpiece center, a grandiose district of temples...
1.18 MILES
Sandwiched between the Roman Forum and the Circo Massimo, the Palatino (Palatine Hill) is one of Rome's most spectacular sights. It's a beautiful,…
1.1 MILES
Dating from 1471, the Capitoline Museums are the world's oldest public museums, with a fine collection of classical sculpture.
1.17 MILES
With its revolutionary design, this awe-inspiring temple has served as an architectural blueprint for millennia.
1.09 MILES
With its showy fountains, baroque palazzi and colorful cast of street artists, hawkers and tourists, Piazza Navona is central Rome’s elegant showcase…
Nearby Trastevere & Gianicolo attractions
0.18 MILES
These polished brass stones, shaped square like a Roman cobble and engraved with the name of a local Jewish resident, marks the exact spot where Holocaust…
2. Tempietto di Bramante & Chiesa di San Pietro in Montorio
0.34 MILES
Bramante’s sublime tempietto (Little Temple) is a perfect surprise in the courtyard of the Chiesa di San Pietro in Montorio.
0.34 MILES
Featured in the opening scene of Paolo Sorrentino's Oscar-winning La grande bellezza (The Great Beauty; 2013), this monumental white fountain with its…
4. Museo della Repubblica Romana e della Memoria Garibaldina
0.37 MILES
Housed in the 19th-century Porta San Pancrazio, which played a major role in the desperate Garibaldi-led defence of Rome against the French. This small…
5. Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi a Ripa Grande
0.4 MILES
St Francis is said to have stayed here in 1219, and in his cell you can still see the rock that he purportedly used as a pillow and his crucifix. Rebuilt…
6. Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere
0.45 MILES
Tucked away in Trastevere, this is said to be Rome's oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
7. Museo di Roma in Trastevere
0.45 MILES
Housed in a 17th-century Carmelite convent, this museum hosts excellent temporary photography exhibitions. Upstairs the permanent collection contains a…
8. Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere
0.46 MILES
Trastevere’s focal square is a prime people-watching spot. By day it’s full of chatting locals and guidebook-toting tourists; by night it’s the domain...