A memorial of the original Sabine inhabitants, known as quirites, is preserved in the name of the hill. Both terms most probably derive from the Sabine word quiris, meaning, “spear men.” Quirites or Curites was also adopted as an alternative political and literary reference to the Romans themselves.

The northern boundary of the city of Rome for most of the Republican era was the Servian Wall, which ran along the top of the western and northern slopes of the Quirinal Hill. The Quirinal portion of the wall extended from the Porta Sanqualis at the Campus Martius to the Porta Collina at the northeastern angle of the wall. When the Aurelian Wall was built it extended the bounds of the district further east to the gates of the Porta Nomentana and the Porta Salaria.

During the Republican period, the Quirinal Hill fell within the Collina quarter of the city, along with the Viminal Hill. The Quirinal was included within Region VI of the Augustan division of the city, and was then known as the Alta Semita district.

The Collis Quirinalis is a southwestward projection of the main plateau that forms Rome’s eastern side, a ridge that also includes the districts of the Esquiline Hill and the Collis Viminalis. On the southern side of the Quirinal Hill, an extension of the Subura along the Vicus Longus lies in the valley between the Quirinal and Viminal ridges. To the west of the Quirinal is the plain of the Campus Martius. To the north, a valley separates the Quirinal ridge from the Collis Hortorum.

The furthest southwestern projection of the Quirinal Hill touches the Forum area. In fact, part of the Quirinal Hill was excavated and removed to make room for the Forum of Trajan. The main road running along the crest of the Quirinal Hill is the Alta Semita, stretching from the Forum to the Porta Collina, outside which it becomes the Via Nomentana.

Most of the prominent public buildings located on the Collis Quirinalis are temples, many of which have Sabine associations. The district contains temples of Quirinus, Semo Sancus, Flora, Serapis, Salus, and Fortune, as well as the ancient Capitolium Vetus, a shrine of the Capitoline triad. Other prominent sights include the Ara Incendii Neronis, the Templum Gentis Flaviae, and the baths of Constantine and Diocletian. Government buildings include the barracks of Cohort III of the urban vigiles and the Castra Praetoria and its parade grounds.