Horti Aciliorum

Horti Aciliorum was an ancient Roman garden complex spanning the Pincian Hill area and featuring substantial retaining walls to support the terrain. A sophisticated two-section swimming pool served as a central feature of the grounds.

These gardens were built during the Roman period and later changed ownership before eventually becoming part of the imperial estates. During the construction of the Aurelian Walls, portions of the original garden structure were incorporated into the fortifications.

These gardens functioned as gathering spaces where Roman nobles met and spent time together in the shade of mature trees arranged along pathways.

You can still see sections of the original garden walls, particularly along the northern and eastern sides where they were incorporated into later fortifications. Walking these areas provides a sense of the gardens' original scale and layout.

An underground water system with tunnels carved directly into rock supplied the gardens and fed the elaborate swimming pool. This hidden network demonstrates the engineering skill Romans applied to water management.