The Square Of The Knights Of Malta In Rome, Italy Editorial Image

The square of the Knights of Malta on the Aventine Hill in Rome, Italy. Not far from the church of St. Alexius, via di Santa Sabina opens onto the quiet Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta projected in 1765 by Giovan Battista Piranesi, famous engraver of Roman Views.. Bordered by a high wall, decorated with neoclassical obelisks and military trophies, it precedes the Magistral Villa, one of the two institutional seats of the government of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. It also hosts the Grand Priory of Rome and the embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Italy. At the northern side of the square the monumental entrance is well known for a small keyhole known affectionately by Romans as the `Hole of Rome`. This attraction draws queues of visitors to this peaceable `out of the way` spot. With kaleidoscope charm, a vision of St Peter`s dome affectionately known to Romans as the `Cuppolone` perfectly in perspective, framed by the tops of trees in the foreground, opens up. Often wrapped in a thin mysterious mist, seems to stand at the end of the garden path, just beyond the door.