ROME, ROMA, the capital of the States of the Church, and formerly of the whole Western world, is situated in the Carnpagna, on the banks of the Tiber, 15 miles from the sea-coast, in 41' 54' N. lat., 12' 28' E. long., and had a population of 175,833 in 1852. The site of Rome consists partly of several strips of low land on both banks of the Tiber, the ordinary level of the river being there about 35 feet above that of the sea, and partly of the table-land of the Campagna, which rises on both sides from 150 to 200 feet above the river. The projections of this table-land which advance towards the river have been called hills; and hence the name of the Seven Hills. After the enlargement of the city walls by Aurelian, theso hills or projections were considerably more than seven. On the right bank of the river, the Vatican and the Janiculum, which are within the modern city, are a continuation of the ridge of Monte Mario, which is outside of the walls to the north, and is 450 feet above tho sea, and of Monte Verde to the south. On the left or eastern bank, the table-land of the Campagna extends, within the walls of Rome, in a semicircular shape, forming several projections to the west towards the river. The low grounds between these projections and the river constitute the Campus Martins, on which the greater part of the modern city is built. Beginning from the north, the first projection of high lands within the city is the Monte Pincio (the ancient Collis Hortulorum); farther east, and partly separated from it by a depres sion or ravine, is the Qnirinal, and still farther south-east the Esquiline. In a kind of recess between the Quirinal and the Esquiline is a smaller projection, the Mons Viminalis, which is hardly distinguishable from the other two. It rises above and north of the church of San Lorenzo Panisperna. The Quirinal, Viminal, and Esquiline are joined on the east, within the walls of Rome, by an extensive plateau, which is about 150 feet above the ordinary level of the Tiber, and which slopes gently towards the country outside of the walls of Rome. Tho highest points of the Esquiline and the Quirinal are yearly 200 feet above the Tiber. South of the Esquiline, and separated from it by a depression or valley, is Mount Cteliue, which is divided on the south from the Aventine by the valley of tho Aqua Crabra or Marrana. Within the space that is inclosed between the table-land and the Tiber, and in the middle of the ancient city, there are three small insulated hills, the Palatine, the Aventine proper, and the Capitol, of which the Aventine is the most southern and the Capitol the most northern. The Capitol rises between the south-west extremity of the Quirinal and the left bank of the Tiber, and nearly fills up the inter mediate space. The ancient city of Roma, before the time of Aurelian, lay south and east. of the Capitol, and along the Palatine, Aventine, Ceilian, Esquiline, and Quirinal hills : the main bulk of modern Rome lies north of the Capitol.
The Tiber, on approaching Rome from tho north, makes a sweep to the east towards the base of Monte Pincio, receding from Monte Mario and the Vatican bill on its right bank; but on reaching Ripetta within the city, the river makes a bend to the westward, and flows along the north-eastern base of the Janiculum, after which it turns again to the east as far as the base of the Capitol. It then turns again to the south-west, sweeping past the base of the Aventine, and along the southern extremity of the Janiculum. It then assumes a course south by east. The level apace between the Vatican Mount, the north end of the Janiculum, and the right bank of the river, is the Vatican field, which is about a mile long from east to west. It contains the Borgo, or suburb of Rome, inclosed by the popes, and St. Peter's church, the Vatican palace, and their appurtenances. The
space between the long ridge of the Janiculum and the right bank of the Tiber constitutes the district of Traatevere, which is another suburb of Rome. The space on the left bank running north and south, and between the great westward bend of the river and the eastern hills, is the site of the modern city of Rome, properly speaking, which extends also along the slope of the Pincian, Quirinal, part of the Esquiline, and the Capitol, forming a kind of triangle, of which the apex is to the north, at the Porta del Popolo, and the bane extends from Santa Maria Maggiore on the east, to the Tiberine Island on the wee& a dietetic. of about a mile and a quarter, whilst from the Porta del Popele to the foot of the Palatine opposite Foote Rotto, the ketbeet southern point of modern Rome, the distance is rather more than a mil. and alalf. All to the south and out of theft limits, founine abut two-thirds of the area within the walls, oonsista of rubs& prelate& end Orb's, with some churches, convents, and other era tiered The prevent line of walls of Rome proper on the left bank of the river Is generally understood to be that traced by Aurelian, restored by Honoring, and afterwards by Belisarius, and since repeatedly renewed by several popes. It describes an irregular polygon. of which the longest diameter is three miles in length from north-west to south east, from the l'orta del Popolo to the Porte San Sebastiano ou the Appian road. The whole circuit of the present walls, including those of 'rraateeere and of the forgo er Vatican, is between 14 and 15 miles. The wall la made of prick mixed with stones and rubbish, and has been often repaired. It varies in height, but in most places does not *nosed 15 feet. It has no ditch, but is flanked by towers and bastions, which were repaired by Pope Benedict XIV. Rome has 16 gates, &out° of which however are walled up. Beginning from tho north is: —1. Porta del Popolo. on the Flaminlan way, or high northern road, which divides at a short distance from Rome, one branch leading to Florence and the other to Ancona. 2. Farther east, the next gate is Porta Pinelsna. 3. l'orta Ballwin, on the road to Rieti. 4. Porta Pie, on the north-east, fonuerly Nomentana, the road from which the Via Salarin. 5. Porta San Lorenzo, facing the east, and eading to Tivoli. 6. Porta Maggiore, leading to Paleetrina : this is the handsomest of the gates of Rome, being originally part of the aqueduct of Claudius restored by Vespasian and Titus, which is attested by the triple inscription over it. It consists of a fino arch which crosses the high road, built of Travertino or Tiburtine stone. 7. Porta San Giovanni, which looks to the south-east on the modern road to Albano and Naples. 8. Porta Latina, the road from which joins the Naples road. 9. Porta San Scbastiano, on the ancient Via Appia. 10. Porto San Paola, on the road to Ostia. Crossing the Tiber, we find-11. Porta Portese, which leads to Fiumicino, the present port of Rome. 12. Porta San Pancrazio, on the summit of the Jule-131nm, which is nearly 300 feet abovo the Tiber. Outside of this gate is the Villa Pamfili, with its shady walks, its waterworks, and beautiful groves of lofty umbrella pines. 13. Porta Cavalleggieri south-west of St. Peter' s; it leads towards Civita Vecchia. 14. Port; Fabbrica, on the same side, is now walled up. 15. Port' Angelica, on the opposite or northern side of St. Peter'e, on the road leading to Monte-Mario. 1G. Porta Castello, which opened from the Castle of San Angelo northward into the country, and is now walled up. Besides these, there are two internal gates, one called Santo Spirito, leading from the forgo to the Lungara, and the other Porta Settimisna, leading from the Lungara to Trastevere. These districts, forgo and Lungara, have been consecutively annexed to the modern city.