Rome's piazzas and fountains are the places to savor the city. Take
a seat, order some food or a drink and people watch for a simple treat.
Just strolling these areas is a gift that just might make your day.
Remember, don't just look - savor the moment.
For more photos of the fountain as well
as details on the sculpture, its elements and information about the artists involved in creating this
masterpiece, see our one-page guide to the
Trevi Fountain
.
Originally the site of the
Domitian's Circus, this lovely, oblong piazza is
surrounded by fine
historic buildings
constructed in the Baroque style. In addition, it contains some
of the Eternal City's best fountains, most famously, Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
(Fountain of the Four Rivers).
The famous Neptune Fountain and the
Fountain of the Moor also can be found in the Piazza Navona . While both
are gorgeous, the Neptune fountain is more interesting and complex. If you
have the time, visit the Church of Sant'Angese in Agone, dating from the 17th century. Also, you might be
interested in examining the architecture the Palazzo Pamphilj at the north
end of the Piazza (now an
embassy), which was built by the family that was responsible for the many of the
treasures in this neighborhood.
If you are interested in the details on what you can see when you visit
the Piazza Navona, click for our
one page guide to the Fountains of Piazza Navona for photographs and
specific information
on its amazing fountains.
The piazza is very popular and its cafes are
good places to observe the many sights in this interesting location. Resting
up for your next exploration seems much more fun when you prepare for it
with an espresso or gelato from one of Piazza Navona's many food emporiums.
Perhaps the most popular meeting place in Rome,
the Piazza di Spagna (named
after the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican) includes the famous Spanish Steps
(the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti), which lead from the piazza to the
church Trinità dei Monte. It is a staple for visitors to be photographed on
the Spanish Steps.
The Piazza contains the small, boat shaped Fontana dell Barcaccia, which
is quite popular with visitors. Next, this area is known for its restaurants and is a
popular place for a snack or a meal. See our one page
Guide to the Spanish Steps for more detail and photographs of this
popular area. The Piazza di Spagna is also in the heart of Rome's best
shopping. If this is of interest, see our section on
shopping in Rome.
This large central square is considered by many to be the hub of Rome.
In some ways, its more like a road race, so watch the traffic while
attempting to reach it, as crossing the intersection is very dangerous.
The
Palazzo Venezia, the most interesting building on the Piazza Venezia, is
a museum renowned for its collection of medieval and Renaissance works,
including an interesting section on textiles.
The ostentatious, marble monument to Vittorio Emanuele II (Italy's first
king) sits at the head of the piazza and is a common gateway to the
Capitoline Hill and Piazza Campidoglio areas.
At the other end of the Piazza is Trajan's Column, commemorating the war
between the Roman Empire and the Dacians. See our one page
Guide
to the Piazza Venezia for photographs and for more details.
A walk along the
shopping district surrounding the Via del Corso (which
leads to the Piazza) is a good way to while away an hour or two. The Via del
Corso starts in the Piazza Popolo and ends at the monument to Vittorio
Emanuele II.
Large and oval-shaped, the Piazza del Popolo lies along the northern edge
of the Aurelian Wall, near both the Piazza di Spagna and the
Galleria
Borghese. The Piazza is known for its three Baroque
(some would say neoclassical) churches and impressive obelisk. While
all three churches are unique, most visitors tour
Santa Maria del Popolo to
see its amazing interior.
Read our
one page guide to the
Piazza del Popolo,
which contains
information on the Piazza, its churches, obelisk and other attractions, as
well as photos of
this intriguing area.
Other Piazzas
During
your travels around Rome you will discover a number of
piazzas that deserve your attention. Some will appear plain, but
most contain an unusual monument or two. The treasures of Rome are almost
endless, which is what makes exploring the city so much fun.
For
example,
Bernini's glorious Triton in Piazza Barberini on the left is set in
a drab and traffic ridden section of Rome that does not attract a lot of
tourists. The excellent Naiads
Fountain on the right is located in the Piazza Repubblica in front of a
hotel. The fountain is surrounded by another
traffic circle, but one that includes the Baths of Domitian and
Santa Maria degli Angeli, a church of significant historical importance. So, keep your eyes open.
as Rome has so many treasures that it is often easy to miss those right in
front of you.
If you are a fan of obelisks, there are a number of spires of either
Egyptian or Roman origin scattered throughout the city. We recommend the
following:The Obelisk of Domitian in
Piazza Navona dates from the 1st century
when it was incorporated in Domitian's Circus. It has been
speculated that this obelisk was purpose cut in Egypt at the request of the Emperor
and specifically designed to adorn the Circus. In later
times the Circus was abandoned and then resurrected as Piazza Navona, which explains the
unusual, narrow, oval-shape of the Piazza. The Obelisk was
subsequently incorporated
by Bernini's into his Fountain of the Four Rivers in the 17th century.
See our one-page guide to Piazza Navona for a
photograph of the obelisk.
The Obelisk of Thutomose III, the tallest and best preserved of the Egyptian
obelisks in Rome, can be found in the
Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano.
If you visit the Obelisk, be sure to take a few minutes to tour the
adjacent Basilica of San Giovanni (St. John Lateran). The church is the
official cathedral of Rome, the oldest of the basilicas in the city, and has
a beautiful interior.
In
Piazza del Popolo, the Obelisk of Rameses II (Obelisco Flaminio) was
originally part of the Circus Maximus, but was moved to this location in the
16th century. The Piazza is adjacent to the Villa Borghese
The Piazza della Minerva, is just down the street and in-sight-of the
Pantheon. This small Piazza houses another of Bernini's obelisk-centered
creations, the Pulcino della Minerva. The obelisk is Egyptian in origin, dates from the 6th century
B.C. and is combined with an elephant in a visually appealing presentation.
The obelisk may have been brought to Rome at the request of Diocletian.
The Piazza, by the way, is named for the Church Saint Minerva, which was
built over an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva. The church,
which is in the background of our photo of the obelisk, is not to be missed and is
described
here.
If you view our map using the hybrid button, you can zoom the satellite
image to see the location and details of many of the obelisks mentioned in
this article.
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