There are two things that everybody knows about Rome: It wasn't built in a day and it stands on seven hills.
Palatino is the hill where, according to legend, Romulus founded the city. Its first emperor Augustus built his house here.
Quirinale is the tallest of the hills. Piazza Omonima with its awesome statues of the ancient gods is at the top. It is also the official home of the Italian president in the Palazzo del Quirinale.
Next to Quirinale is the smaller hill of Viminale. As well as the modern Palazzo delle Esposizioni and the main railway station Stazione Termini this is where you'll find the Piazza della Repubblica one of the most beautiful piazzas in the city.
Esquilino has three peaks including Monte Oppio where the ruins of Domus Aurea have been opened to the public after years of restoration. This was the palace the megalomaniac Emperor Nero built after two-thirds of the city was destroyed by fire in 64 AD. Yes, he was the man with the fiddle.
Celio is the greenest of the hills. Few people live here although the Via Appia Antica contains many beautiful buildings.
Aventino, which is next to it, has a number of the most important mediaeval buildings including the basilica of Santa Marie de Cosmedin, which contains the Bocca della Verità , or mouth of truth. Legend has it that if a person puts his hand into the mouth and tells a lie, he will not be able to withdraw it.
Surrounding the Faragut West Metrorail station is Lafayette, the grand park of the presidents just north of the White House. Containing some of the city's most diverse museums including the world famous Corcoran Gallery of Art, you can also take a tour of the US Department of the Treasury. And no, they don't give out free samples!
The Capitolino was the city's political and religious center in Roman times. The Piazza del Campidoglio with its statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback dominates this part of the city.
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