From Trastevere to the Janiculum Viewpoint

A walk of about 4 km that crosses the Tiber, wanders through the streets of Trastevere and climbs the Janiculum hill to Garibaldi's terrace, with the rooftops and domes of Rome in front of you. It is free, done on your own and has a single climb, short but continuous.

The route step by step

1. Ponte Sisto. Start at the pedestrian bridge linking the Campo de' Fiori district with Trastevere. On the other side, Piazza Trilussa and its fountain mark the entrance to the district.
2. Trastevere. Wander south along Via della Lungaretta or Vicolo del Cinque to Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere. The basilica, one of the oldest churches in Rome, has golden mosaics on the façade and in the apse. Go in if it is open: it is free.
3. Via Garibaldi. From the square, take Via della Paglia and then Via Garibaldi, which climbs in bends. This is the slope part: about 80 m of ascent in a little over a kilometre.
4. San Pietro in Montorio. Halfway up, the church and, in its courtyard, Bramante's Tempietto, a round Renaissance temple built where tradition places the martyrdom of St Peter. In front, a terrace with the first wide view of the city.
5. Fontana dell'Acqua Paola. A little higher, the Fontanone, the great white marble fountain of the early 17th century.
6. Passeggiata del Gianicolo. Continue along the tree-lined walk, with the 84 marble busts of the Garibaldians who defended the Roman Republic of 1849 against the French troops.
7. Piazzale Garibaldi. At the top, at 88 m, Garibaldi's equestrian statue and the viewpoint over the centre: the Pantheon, the Vittoriano, the domes. A few steps away is the monument to Anita Garibaldi.
8. Descent. Continue to the lighthouse given by the Italians of Buenos Aires and go down the bends towards Sant'Onofrio. From there, St Peter's Square is ten minutes away or you can return to Trastevere by the same way.

How long it takes and when to go

Walking without hurry, about two hours with stops. The best time is the last hour of the afternoon: you climb with the sun at your back and at the piazzale you see the city turn orange. Afterwards you go down to Trastevere, which fills with people at dinner time.

If you prefer the morning, do it the other way round and reach the piazzale before 12:00: an army cannon fires a blank salvo every day at noon from below the terrace, a custom dating from 1847 so that Rome's bells would ring at the same time. Take care with small children: the bang is loud.

Getting there and getting around

Not by car: Trastevere has limited traffic and parking is almost impossible. You reach Ponte Sisto on foot from Campo de' Fiori or the Ghetto. Tram 8 crosses Trastevere along Viale di Trastevere, in case you want to save the first stretch and start at the Santa Maria square.

With children, pushchairs or a dog

It works for families: there are stairs on some shortcuts, but the route along Via Garibaldi and the Janiculum walk is asphalt and pavement, so a pushchair can manage, pushing on the slope. On the Janiculum there is shade from plane trees and pines and room for children to run away from traffic. A dog can go on a lead along the whole route; it cannot enter the churches.

Water and shade

In Rome there are drinking fountains everywhere, the nasoni: refill your bottle in Trastevere before going up. The slope of Via Garibaldi is in the sun in the afternoon in summer.

If you keep walking, St Peter's Dome is at the foot of the Janiculum to the north.