Gardens of Sallust

The Gardens of Sallust is an ancient garden and archaeological site in Rome that spread across the land between the Pincian and Quirinal hills. It stretched from Via XX Settembre to Via Salaria and the Aurelian Walls, containing multiple buildings, gardens, and collections of art.

The Roman historian Sallust founded these gardens around 50 BC using wealth he gained during his administration of an African province. Over the centuries, the site was modified and additions made until eventually urban development transformed the land into the modern city landscape we see today.

These gardens once displayed important artworks that people traveled to see, making them centers of taste and refinement for wealthy Romans. The sculptures and treasures that were kept here shaped what later generations understood about classical beauty and artistic value.

Keep in mind that the ancient remains lie well below the modern street level, so what you see today is mainly the modern urban area built above. The area around Piazza Sallustio is the best place to explore and look for traces of the historical site.

Hidden beneath the modern streets are ancient structures about 14 meters (45 feet) underground, including a circular hall with two decorative fountains. These buried remains reveal how wealthy Romans built their homes and arranged their living spaces.