Aventine Keyhole (Knights of Malta)

Peer through an ornate brass keyhole set into the green door of the Knights of Malta's Roman villa and discover a perfectly framed view of St. Peter's Basilica nestled between cypress trees—one of Rome's most whimsical optical surprises. This elegant architectural joke reveals how the villa's gardens were deliberately designed to create this enchanting focal point, transforming a simple metal opening into a window onto the city's most iconic monument. It's the kind of moment that makes you smile at Rome's playful side.