There are 20 rioni (neighborhoods) cut from the part of Rome within the Aurelian walls. Two more, Borgo and Prati, form the 22 rioni of Rome. Here's a map of the city and its sections. (I lifted this from the web, then added detail myself.) These are sort of like the arrondisments of Paris, but much smaller than the burroughs of New York.



All of the public trash bins have handsome cast metal badges of the rioni's symbols. Each rione symbol has some historical reference, most of which are obvious. Celio, though, for instance, is as unexpected as it is fascinating, with its African-looking woman with elephant-inspired headwear. Colonna, which means 'column,' is also the family name of the old Roman aristocracy. And why a mirror, or is it a magnifying glass, for Sallustiano?

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