The grand dome of St Peters Basilica, at 136 m it is the highest in the world, was completed in 1590. For the next 250 years it was a traveller's (at least one arriving from the north) first view of the Eternal City. Monte Mario is the highest hill (139 m) in Rome, lying on the northwest side of the city. In the middle-ages it came to be known as Mons Gaudii or Monte della Gioia (Hill of Joy), for, at their first sight of Rome and St Peter's, pilgrims would fall to their knees, kiss the ground and say a pray. Comments are closed.
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Blogging about Rome,
its art, history and culture. My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
small-group walking tours of Rome. Search Walks in Rome:
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January 2021
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