Peek through this keyhole on a piazza designed by Piranesi in 1765, and you will see a garden path that ends with bushes perfectly framing the dome of St. Peter's in the distance.
What you are peering though are the gardens of the Villa del Priorato di Malta, one of the Rome properties of the famous Knights of Malta (I Cavalieri di Malta)—who are technically and more correctly called the Knights of St. John Hospitaler.
This is one of the last surviving orders of knights left over from the Crusades. But before you say, "Cool!" and rush off to join, I should warn you they wear rather unbecoming powder-blue uniforms, and they take a vow of chastity.
The knights left their late medieval home on the island of Malta long ago, and their headquarters are now here in Rome (if you're curious, it is at Via Condotti 68, at the corner of Via Bocca di Leone near the Spanish Steps.) This Aventine villa is actually home to the Order's ambassadors to Italy and the Holy See.
Ambassadors? Yep. The Italian state recognizes the sovereignty of this ancient Military Order, which mean there are actually three nations and three national captials contained within Rome: Italy, the Vatican, and the Knights of Malta. (» More in Italy's microcountries)
Atop the Aventine Hill at Piazza Cavalieri di Malta in Via di S. Sabina
www.orderofmalta.int
Admission rare (but the point is not actually to go in, just to peep)
Free (to look though the keyhole)
Roma Pass: No
Bus: 23, 280, 716, 75, 3B, N3, N9, N10,
Metro:Piramamide (B) or Circo Massimo (B)
Hop-on/hop-off: Vaticano
Knights of Malta keyhole tour
This tour gives you a peek through the keyhole:
Planning your day: It takes a whopping 10 seconds per person to peer through the keyhole—add another 2 minutes for you to figure out how to get a picture through it while keeping the dome in focus.
Still, getting here is takes good 20-minute journey each way on foot (so be sure to make it worth your while by seeing the other Aventine sights nearby).
Take a guided tour of The Knights of Malta gate with one of our partners:
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Atop the Aventine Hill at Piazza Cavalieri di Malta in Via di S. Sabina
www.orderofmalta.int
Admission rare (but the point is not actually to go in, just to peep)
Free (to look though the keyhole)
Roma Pass: No
Bus: 23, 280, 716, 75, 3B, N3, N9, N10,
Metro:Piramamide (B) or Circo Massimo (B)
Hop-on/hop-off: Vaticano
Knights of Malta keyhole tours
These tours give you a peek through the keyhole:
This article was written by Reid Bramblett and was last updated in February 2014.
All information was accurate at the time.
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