Aventine Adventure

Ever since I first gazed out the southeast-facing window to the view across the Tevere from our apartment, I have wondered what was on the hill on the other side. We always saw people gathering on an overlook and staring at what seemed to be directly into our apartment. For this reason, we have kept the shutters of that window almost always closed since we got here. However, last weekend, I somehow managed to convince my roommate to climb the hill with me (which we had since found out to be the Aventine), and we were able to discover firsthand what was actually up there.

And, as it turns out, the people on that overlook are not curious to see what two American girls are doing in their apartment. They're actually a little preoccupied with something else...

Our Apartment and St. Peter's Basilica Beyond

After taking in the fantastic view of our apartment complex (and the rest of Trastevere, of course), we continued to explore the summit of the Aventine. Our next stop was Chiesa Santa Sabina, a beautiful basilica in the most soothing gray and blue tones.

Santa Sabina

We spent some time exploring the interior and then wandered into the orange grove next door. Eventually, after seeing a couple of other churches and courtyards on the summit, we discovered that the coolest thing on the hill was not some grand edifice but was actually quite miniscule and commonplace. Less than an inch in diameter, the keyhole to a gate near St. Anselmo Monastery frames a perfect forced-perspective through two rows of hedges to St. Peter's dome. This photo doesn't quite do it justice:

Through the Keyhole