A tranquil stretch of Rome's Roseto Comunale.

©Alexandra Bruzzese/Lonely Planet

Roseto Comunale

San Giovanni & Testaccio


Stretched out on the slopes of the Aventine Hill, this idyllic garden boasts more than 1100 of the rarest roses, coaxed into life each spring by a team of horticultural experts. The ancient Circo Massimo plays backdrop, and is just as striking as the grounds themselves.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby San Giovanni & Testaccio attractions

1. Giardino degli Aranci

0.16 MILES

Officially called the Parco Savello but known to every Roman as the Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden), this walled park is a romantic haven. Head down…

2. Basilica di Santa Sabina

0.2 MILES

This solemn basilica, one of Rome's most beautiful early Christian churches, was founded by Peter of Illyria around AD 422. It was enlarged in the 9th…

3. Circo Massimo

0.2 MILES

Now a huge basin of dusty grass, Circo Massimo was ancient Rome’s largest chariot racetrack, a 250,000-seater capable of holding up to a quarter of the…

4. Bocca della Verità

0.21 MILES

A bearded face carved into a giant marble disc, the Bocca della Verità is one of Rome's most popular curiosities. Legend has it that if you put your hand…

5. Domus Augustana

0.22 MILES

On the Palatino, the Domus was the emperor's private residence in the imperial palace. It was built on two levels, with rooms leading off a peristilio …

6. Aula Isiaca

0.22 MILES

At the Domus Augustana, SUPER ticket holders can visit the Aula Isiaca, a frescoed room from a luxurious Republican-era house, and the Loggia Mattei, a…

7. Stadio

0.23 MILES

One of the few obviously recognisable buildings on the Palatino, the sunken stadio (stadium) was probably used by the emperors for private games and…

8. Arcate Severiane

0.23 MILES

A series of towering arches in the southern area of the Palatino built to facilitate the development of the imperial residence.