The Smallest, But Most Significant Of Rome's Seven Hills

It's possible I'm the only tourist with a real camera to forget to take a picture of Michelangelo's famed stairway up to Piazza Campidoglio.  If that's true, it's a distinction I wear with pride (not).

Capitoline Hill is a place I had never been before in Rome.  Turns out it was the first place Cecilia took us on the tour.  To be fair to me. . .

(Editor Interrupts: We don't need to be fair to you.  Writer: At least let me explain why I've never been there before.)

The two times I had been to Rome prior, 1984 and 2007, I only stayed for three nights.  So, when making decisions about what to see in that short amount of time, I did not prioritize Capitoline Hill.  And I stand by my decision.

It's been called the smallest, but most significant of Rome's seven hills because it served as the political and religious heart of the city back in the day (and in Rome, the expression "back in the day" does a LOT of lifting.

Now, it is the Renaissance capitol of Rome, featuring statues, the Palasso Senatorio (the mayoral palace), the Capitoline Museum (no, we didn't go this time), fountains, and, tucked around the corner, commanding views of the Roman Forum.

There's also a copy of one of my favorite statues -- the famed she-wolf of Rome suckling the two founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.  Besides being one of the founders of Rome, Romulus also played a key role in Star Trek history, also being the first Romulan.

(Editor: Now you are just making stuff up.  Writer: Yes, and it's glorious!)

We spent some time on Capitoline Hill, taking in Cecilia's discussion about it.  Then we went up another set of stairs to Santa Maria in Aracoeli Church. . .which will be covered in the next two blog posts.