The Pincian hill, called as well Collis Hortulorum (hill of the gardens), was situated in the north of the Campus Martius, and housed the favorite site for the great gardens of the ancient Rome. This hill was facing the Quirinal hill, from which it was separated by a small valley. On the picture, the border of the model shows, on the left side, only a part of the Pincio, as the Quirinal appears clearly in the background.



















This high view of the Pincio lets discover a panoramic sight of the north part of the Campus Martius and of the Via Flaminia. You can notice in the upper part of the picture the Mausoleum of Augustus. In the foreground the magnificent Gardens of Lucullus.





















The great way that went over the hill to reach the Porta Pinciana was called the Via Salaria Vetus. On the picture, you can see its fairly steep slope and several great domus, built on the top of the hill.




















A closer view of the slope of the Via Salaria Vetus lets us discover, halfway to the top, a small round monument, the tomb Octaviĉ . It could be the tomb of the daughter of some M. Appius. Built in marble, it had an inscription on the frieze.


























A little further than the Via Salaria Vetus, another small street led to other gardens and other Domus. Down below a small temple, the Templum Florĉ, temple of Flora, the goddess of flowers, that appears in the centre of the picture.


















Acilius was the nomen (name) of an ancient Roman family, the Gens Acilia, whose family branches included the Acilii Balbi and the Acilii Glabriones (a tomb belonging to this branch had been found in Rome in 1888). The Glabriones possessed a famous garden, (Horti Aciliorum) on the Pincius in the IInd century. Their magnificent villa overlooked the top of the hill and surely offered a splendid view over Rome. On the left, note the huge buttresses that surrounded the hill ( Substructiones Hortorum). We are here on the north limit of the Pincius.






The modern name of Pincius derives from the nomen of one of the families that settled there during the IVth century B.C., the Pincii. The Pincii had a large estate, which you can see in the centre of the picture, the gardens of which ( Horti Pinciorum ) joined Lucullus’ Palace.