Rome's 14 Rioni Map

Explore the historic districts that have defined Rome since the time of Augustus

The Rioni of Rome

Rome's 14 rioni are the historic administrative districts of the city center, a system of division that traces its roots back to Emperor Augustus, who organized the city into 14 regiones in 7 BC. While the boundaries and names evolved over the centuries -- particularly during the medieval period and under Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 -- the concept of the rioni has remained a fundamental part of Roman identity. Unlike modern municipi (administrative boroughs), the rioni cover only the historic center within the ancient walls and represent the Rome of history, art, and tradition. Each rione has its own coat of arms, patron saint, and distinct character.

All 14 Rioni

Rione I - Monti

The largest and oldest of Rome's rioni, Monti takes its name from the hills (monti) it encompasses, originally including the Esquiline, Viminal, and part of the Quirinal. Once a working-class neighborhood with a somewhat rough reputation, Monti has transformed into one of Rome's most fashionable districts. Its narrow streets are now lined with vintage boutiques, artisan workshops, craft cocktail bars, and independent galleries. The heart of the neighborhood is Piazza della Madonna dei Monti, where locals and visitors gather around the fountain on summer evenings. Key landmarks include the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro in Vincoli (home to Michelangelo's Moses), and the ancient Subura district.

Coordinates: 41.895500, 12.493500

Rione II - Trevi

Named after the world-famous Trevi Fountain, this rione occupies the slopes of the Quirinal Hill, the highest of Rome's seven hills and now the official residence of the Italian President. Despite its small size, Trevi packs enormous significance: the Quirinal Palace, the Trevi Fountain (completed in 1762 by Nicola Salvi), and the prestigious Galleria Sciarra with its Art Nouveau frescoes. The narrow streets around the fountain are perpetually crowded, but venture a block or two away and you'll find quieter streets with local trattorias and artisan gelato shops. The rione's coat of arms features three swords (tre vie, or three roads, the likely origin of the name).

Coordinates: 41.900500, 12.484800

Rione III - Colonna

This compact rione takes its name from the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the monumental spiral column erected in 193 AD in what is now Piazza Colonna. The column depicts scenes from Marcus Aurelius's military campaigns against Germanic and Sarmatian tribes. Today, the rione is dominated by Palazzo Chigi (the Italian Prime Minister's official residence) and the Galleria Alberto Sordi, an elegant shopping arcade. Via del Corso, Rome's main shopping street, forms the rione's western boundary. The area has a distinctly governmental and commercial atmosphere, with fewer residential streets than neighboring rioni.

Coordinates: 41.901500, 12.480500

Rione IV - Campo Marzio

Named after the ancient Campus Martius (Field of Mars), where Roman soldiers once trained and citizens gathered for elections, Campo Marzio is today one of Rome's most elegant districts. The rione stretches from the Spanish Steps and Via Condotti (Rome's luxury shopping street) northward to Piazza del Popolo, encompassing the artistic quarter around Via Margutta and the fashionable streets of Via del Babuino and Via di Ripetta. The Augustus Mausoleum and the Ara Pacis museum sit along the Tiber. This is where Rome's dolce vita spirit is most alive, with sidewalk cafes, art galleries, and designer boutiques at every turn.

Coordinates: 41.907500, 12.478500

Rione V - Ponte

The Bridge District takes its name from the Ponte Sant'Angelo, the ancient bridge adorned with Bernini's angel statues that leads to Castel Sant'Angelo. During the medieval and Renaissance periods, Ponte was the main route for pilgrims approaching the Vatican, making it a bustling commercial district. The rione's narrow streets, particularly Via dei Coronari (famous for its antique shops) and Via del Governo Vecchio (known for vintage clothing stores), retain a medieval character. Historically, this was also the location of papal executions and justice, with the infamous Via della Corda where prisoners were tortured.

Coordinates: 41.898000, 12.468500

Rione VI - Parione

Home to Piazza Navona, one of Rome's most beautiful squares, Parione is the quintessential Roman neighborhood. The piazza was built on the site of Emperor Domitian's ancient stadium (81 AD), and its elongated shape still follows the stadium's outline. Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers dominates the center. Beyond the piazza, Parione's streets are filled with small artisan workshops, bookshops, and traditional Roman restaurants. Via del Governo Vecchio is a popular shopping street for vintage fashion. The rione's name likely derives from a large ancient wall (parietone) that once stood in the area. The Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, designed by Borromini, faces the piazza.

Coordinates: 41.897500, 12.472000

Rione VII - Regola

Regola is the rione of Campo de' Fiori, Rome's most lively market square, where fresh produce, flowers, and spices are sold every morning except Sunday. At the center stands the somber statue of Giordano Bruno, the philosopher burned at the stake for heresy in 1600 on this very spot. By night, Campo de' Fiori transforms into a hub of nightlife with bars and restaurants lining the square. The rione's name comes from renula (fine sand), referring to the sandy banks of the nearby Tiber. Regola also includes Palazzo Farnese (now the French Embassy), considered one of the most important Renaissance palaces in Rome, and the charming Via Giulia, a straight Renaissance-era street lined with galleries and palaces.

Coordinates: 41.893500, 12.471000

Rione VIII - Sant'Eustachio

This tiny rione takes its name from the Basilica of Sant'Eustachio and is most famous for being home to the Pantheon, ancient Rome's best-preserved monument. Despite its small size, Sant'Eustachio punches well above its weight in terms of cultural significance and caffeine: the Caffe Sant'Eustachio, located in the piazza of the same name, is legendary for serving what many consider Rome's finest espresso. The rione also encompasses the French church of San Luigi dei Francesi, which houses three Caravaggio masterpieces, and the Palazzo Madama, seat of the Italian Senate. The streets between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona are some of the most atmospheric in all of Rome.

Coordinates: 41.898500, 12.475500

Rione IX - Pigna

Named after a giant Roman bronze pine cone (pigna) that was discovered in the area and now stands in the Vatican's Cortile della Pigna, this rione occupies the area around Largo di Torre Argentina, where the remains of four Republican-era temples are visible below street level -- and where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. The site is also famous as a cat sanctuary, home to dozens of feral cats cared for by volunteers. Pigna includes the Jesuit Church of the Gesu, the first Jesuit church in the world and a masterpiece of baroque architecture, as well as the Crypta Balbi museum, which reveals layers of Rome's history from ancient times through the Middle Ages.

Coordinates: 41.897000, 12.478500

Rione X - Campitelli

Campitelli encompasses the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio), the political and religious heart of ancient Rome, and the area stretching down to the Theatre of Marcellus. The Capitoline Hill, redesigned by Michelangelo in the 16th century, is crowned by the Palazzo dei Senatori (Rome's City Hall) and the Capitoline Museums, the world's oldest public museums (founded 1471). The piazza's geometric pavement design and the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius are among Rome's most iconic images. Below the hill, the Teatro di Marcello, an ancient theater that predates the Colosseum, has been incorporated into medieval apartments. The Portico of Octavia nearby marks the entrance to Rome's historic Jewish Quarter.

Coordinates: 41.892500, 12.482500

Rione XI - Sant'Angelo

The smallest of Rome's rioni, Sant'Angelo corresponds largely to the historic Jewish Ghetto, established by Pope Paul IV in 1555 when Rome's Jewish community was forced into this confined area along the Tiber. Despite centuries of hardship, the Jewish community developed a rich cultural identity that persists today. The area is home to the Great Synagogue of Rome (1904), the Jewish Museum, and some of Rome's most distinctive cuisine, including carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style fried artichokes) served at restaurants like Nonna Betta and Ba'Ghetto. The Portico of Octavia, the Fountain of the Turtles in Piazza Mattei, and the medieval Casa dei Vallati are among the rione's landmarks.

Coordinates: 41.892000, 12.477500

Rione XII - Ripa

Taking its name from the banks (ripa) of the Tiber, this large rione covers the Aventine Hill, one of Rome's most peaceful and residential hills. The Aventine is famous for the Keyhole of the Knights of Malta at Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, where peering through a small keyhole reveals a perfectly framed view of St. Peter's dome through a garden tunnel. The Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci) on the hilltop offers one of Rome's most romantic panoramas. Ripa also includes the ancient port area along the Tiber, the early Christian basilica of Santa Sabina, and the Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot-racing stadium that could hold 250,000 spectators.

Coordinates: 41.885000, 12.478000

Rione XIII - Trastevere

Literally meaning "across the Tiber" (trans Tiberim), Trastevere has been a distinct neighborhood since ancient times, when it was home to immigrants, sailors, and Jewish merchants. Today it's arguably Rome's most beloved rione, famous for its cobblestone streets, ivy-draped ochre buildings, and vibrant nightlife. The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, founded in the 3rd century, is one of Rome's oldest churches and features stunning medieval mosaics. The neighborhood comes alive at night when trattorias spill onto the streets and musicians play in the piazzas. The weekly Porta Portese flea market (Sundays) is one of Europe's largest. Despite gentrification and tourism, Trastevere retains a fiercely local identity.

Coordinates: 41.889000, 12.469000

Rione XIV - Borgo

The newest and last rione to be added (1586), Borgo occupies the area between Castel Sant'Angelo and Vatican City. For centuries, this neighborhood served as the main approach to St. Peter's Basilica, lined with hostels, shops, and taverns catering to pilgrims. The famous Passetto di Borgo, a fortified elevated passageway built in 1277, connects the Vatican Palace to Castel Sant'Angelo and was used by popes to escape during sieges. Much of the medieval Borgo was demolished in the 1930s to create the wide Via della Conciliazione, the grand boulevard leading to St. Peter's Square. The remaining streets still have a pilgrim-quarter atmosphere, with religious souvenir shops and modest trattorias.

Coordinates: 41.902000, 12.460000

History of the Rioni System

The division of Rome into distinct districts has roots stretching back over two thousand years:

From Augustus to the Modern Era

In 7 BC, Emperor Augustus reorganized the rapidly growing city into 14 regiones (regions), each identified by a number. These administrative districts helped manage public services, law enforcement, and fire prevention across a city of over one million inhabitants. The Augustan regions did not have formal names -- they were simply numbered I through XIV.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city's population declined dramatically, and much of the ancient urban area was abandoned. During the medieval period, the inhabited area shrank to the bend of the Tiber, and the old regiones were replaced by a smaller number of districts. By the 12th century, Rome was divided into 12 rioni, each with its own militia and civic organization.

In 1586, Pope Sixtus V added a 14th rione (Borgo) to account for the area near the Vatican. Pope Benedict XIV formalized the boundaries and names of all 14 rioni in 1743, establishing the system largely as it exists today. Each rione was given an official coat of arms and a number, and the boundaries were marked with marble plaques on buildings -- many of which can still be spotted on walls throughout the historic center.

Rioni vs. Modern Neighborhoods

It's important to distinguish between the historic rioni and Rome's modern administrative divisions:

While the rioni no longer serve an official administrative purpose, they remain deeply embedded in Roman culture. Locals often identify themselves by their rione, and neighborhood festivals, rivalries, and traditions tied to the rioni persist to this day.

Exploring the Rioni on Foot

All 14 rioni are contained within a relatively compact area and can be explored over several days of walking. Look for the marble plaques on buildings at rione boundaries -- they feature the rione's coat of arms and name, and are a charming reminder of Rome's layered history. Each rione has its own character, from the trendy boutiques of Monti to the quiet elegance of the Aventine, from the bustling markets of Regola to the pilgrim streets of Borgo.