Esquiline Hill

Fourteen miles from the mouth of the Tiber, the monotonous level of the plain through which the river flows is broken by a cluster of hills.

Footnote, the seven hills of historic Rome were the Aventine, the Capitoline, the Colline, the Esquiline, the highest, which is two hundred and eighteen feet, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal.

The Janiculum was on the other side of the Tiber and was held by the early Romans as a stronghold against the Etruscans.

It was connected with Rome by a wooden bridge, the Pons Sublicius, rising to a considerable height, around one of which the Palatine first settled a tribe of Latins called the Romaines, a name gradually changed to Romans.

Thus, Cicero S.D. Pompeo, S.D. equals sends greeting, would be the usual opening of a letter from Cicero to Pompey.

End of chapter 46 Chapter 47 Public Buildings, Squares, etc.

Rome was built on seven hills, the Palatine, the Aventine, the Capitoline, the Esquiline, the largest, the Quirinal, the Viminal, and the Caelian.

There were various public squares.

Footnote.

The seven hills of historic Rome were the Aventine, the Capitoline, the Colian, the Esquiline, the highest, which is 218 feet, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal.

The Janiculum was on the other side of the Tiber and was held by the early Romans as a stronghold against the Etruscans.

It was connected with Rome by a wooden bridge, the Pons Sublicius, rising to a considerable height, around one of which the Palatine first settled a tribe of Latins called the Romneys, a name gradually changed to Romans.

Chapter 47.

Public buildings, squares, etc.

Rome was built on seven hills, the Palatine, the Aventine, the Capitoline, the Esquiline, the largest, the Quirinal, the Viminal, and the Caelian.

There were various public squares.

Don Bosco had built many churches, some of which were splendid and imposing, out of the alms of his faithful cooperators.

Pius IX, who had beheld with heart-rending grief several churches confiscated in Rome, saw the need of a new place of worship on the Esquiline Hill, where 15,000 souls were deprived of spiritual helps.

Shortly before his death in 1879, he said to Don Bosco, You must build another church here in Rome.

It will be the crowning work of your career.