"Villa Celimontana" Palaces & Villas Tip by leics

The Celian Hill, although within easy walking distance of the Colosseum and the forum, is an entirely different experience. remarkably quiet and peaceful, with some lovely churches (see tips on Santo Stefano Rotondo and Santi Giovanni e Paulo), the Case Romane 'hidden' Roman houses/street and the lovely, shady park of Villa Celimontana.

This is a nice place to take a picnic (there's a supermarket nearby in Largo Sanita Militaire, off Via Claudia), or a rest from the heat of midday. There are trees, and plants, and fountains (albeit rather small when I visited) , grassy slopes and a children's playground.

And rather good free toilets, hidden away behind a super construction of ancient Roman stonework which makes a very pretty rockery!

You can access the park from Clivio de Scauro, or from Via della Navicula (which follows on from Via Caudia).