Itinerary from the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere to Piazza Venezia

The itinerary leads to Piazza Venezia, the nerve center of the city.

The route crosses Tiber Island, where the Ponte Fabricio, the oldest bridge in Rome preserved in its original form (62 BC), leads directly to the entrance to the Ghetto, the historic Jewish quarter. Here stands the imposing Portico of Octavia: erected by Augustus between 27 and 23 BC to enclose the temples of Juno Regina and Jupiter Stator, its remains are today harmoniously integrated into the façade of the church of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria. From here, a ramp provides access to the area of ​​the Foro Piscario, a fascinating passageway that winds right at the foot of the Theatre of Marcellus.

A few steps away is the monumental Piazza Venezia, dominated by the Vittoriano (Altar of the Fatherland). The monument, erected in honor of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of Italy, towers over the entire square; from its Terrazza delle Quadrighe (Quadriga Terrace), you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city.

Adjacent to it stands the Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. The square on the Capitoline Hill, a Renaissance masterpiece designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti, is bordered by three buildings: Palazzo Senatorio, seat of the City of Rome, and on either side the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo, which house the Capitoline Museums, considered the oldest public museum in the world, founded in 1471.
At the foot of the Capitoline Hill, along the slope leading to the Roman Forum, stands the Church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami. Beneath it lies the Mamertine Prison, the oldest prison in Rome, where Saints Peter and Paul were imprisoned before their martyrdom.

Between the Capitoline Hill and the Altar of the Fatherland stands the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, the highest point of ancient Rome. Its name, "Ara Coeli," means "Altar of Heaven." To reach the basilica, you climb a monumental staircase of 124 white marble steps, built in 1348 as a votive offering for the end of the Black Death.