A Guide to Rome's Piazza's
- Into the Wild
- Mar 1, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 15, 2021
Rome is full of piazza’s and they are all unique and offer the best restaurants and sites in the city. Here I have compiled a guide to Rome’s Piazza’s, listed in the order I recommend visiting them. At the end of this article, there is a walking guide which breaks it up into two days and includes information on how to get from one Piazza to another. Of course, you can break it up further if you wish but I paired the piazza’s together based on their proximity to each other.
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo, known as the Peoples Square, is a large square in the centre of Rome that served as the cities North Gate. Traditionally, this was the first piece of Rome that travellers would experience as it was where the road (to modern day Rimini) started in the days before railroads. Piazza del Popolo is the site of the Rome’s oldest Obelisk (brought by Augustus from ancient Egypt) and was used for executions up until 1826.
On the streets leading off the piazza, you will find shops and restaurants. Via del Corso is a main street that connects Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia and it is lined with boutique shops and plenty of meandering alleys.
Piazza Di Spagna
One of the most famous squares in Rome, this piazza hosts the famous Spanish Steps.
The area around the Piazza di Spagna are streets lined with high end shops and restaurants and as such it is a popular shopping district. Be sure to stop and browse or window shop on your way to the Spanish Steps.
Interesting facts about the Spanish steps:
They were built in 1723-1735 to link the Trinita dei Monti church (under French patronage) with the Spanish square below.
In 1986, the first McDonalds in Italy was opened near the Spanish Steps and resulted in protests.
Piazza Venezia
This is the central hub of Rome with several major streets intersecting. The Via di Fori will take you past the Roman Forum to the Colosseum.
Nearby is Palantine Hill, take a walk and you will be met with views of the Roman Forum on one side and Circus Maximus on the other. Circus Maximus is a public park and a popular walking destination for locals.
In the square, you can admire Il Vittoriano which is a pantheon-style marble monument.
Interesting facts about Piazza Venezia:
The bronze horse statue at the centre of the Vittoriano is large enough to comfortably host a dinner inside. About 20 workers did just that upon completion of the statue.
Palazzo Venezia is the oldest Renaissance buildings in Rome, built between 1455 & 1464.
Piazza Di Trevi
The Trevi fountain is widely popular so expect crowds and to wait to take a photo. It is the largest fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.
It is located at the junction of three roads which is where its name is derived from (tre vie).
This piazza is a very busy, foot traffic only square. There are numerous alley’s that feed into Piazza di Trevi and they are lined with Cafés, boutique shops, restaurants & bars. Most cafés and restaurants offer outdoor seating so you can grab a glass of wine and enjoy the atmosphere.
About a 10 minute walk from here, you will happen upon Piazza della Rotonda which is where the Pantheon is located.
Piazza Della Rotonda
This is an incredibly cool piazza. At the centre is the Pantheon which was built in 126 AD (they think). At the centre of the dome is an oculus (or opening) to the sky. It remains to this day the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. The Pantheon is still in use as a Catholic church today and will close temporarily for service.
The Piazza della Rotonda is wide and bustling with bars and restaurants. Grab yourself a bite to eat, sit outside in the square and revel at the site of the Pantheon.
Interesting facts about the Pantheon:
It is the best preserved ancient Roman monument having survived barbarian raids when every other building was shattered.
No one knows exactly what material was used to construct the Pantheon but the composition appears to be similar to modern day concrete. The exact age of it is unknown.
Piazza Navona
Venture past the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and you will happen upon the Piazza Navona. I first discovered this gem during my first trip to Rome in 2007.
Built on the site of the Stadium of Domitan (built in the 1st century AD), this piazza is lined with restaurants, and shops.
In the centre stands the Fonstana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) topped with an Obelisk. Make sure to stop by this piazza for a quick photo op and enjoy the hustle and bustle while dinning on one of the many patio’s that line the perimeter.
Interesting facts about the Piazza Navona:
In 86 AD, Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus commissioned the Stadium of Domitan which could seat 30,000 people. The stadium was paved over in the 15th century to create the current Piazza Navona and the remains of the stadium can still be found under the square.
Did you know you can visit the Stadium of Domitan ruins? See here for more information.
Walking Guide
It’s best to spend a couple of days exploring the different Piazza’s Rome has to offer but below is a recommended route. These are paired in a manner so that you can make the most out of your time. The times listed are how long it will take the average person to walk between piazza's.
Day 1
1. Piazza del Popolo
Getting to Piazza del Popolo
Take the Metro Line A to station Flaminio-Piazza del Popolo.
2. Piazza Di Spagna (9 mins via Via del Babuino)
3. Piazza Venezia (18 mins via Via del Corso)
Day 2
1. Piazza Di Trevi
Getting to Piazza di Trevi
Take the Metro Line A (red) to station Barberini. When you exit the station, you should see a smaller fountain in the boulevard, walk past it to Via del Tritone. Make a left onto Via Poli. It is a smaller street and follow this until you come to the Piazza di Trevi. The Trevi Fountain will be on your left.
2. Piazza Della Rotonda (9 min via Via del Seminario)
3. Piazza Navona (5 min via Corso del Rinascimento)
Rome is easily a city that you can spend a week in and still have more to see. This guide gives you a quick and dirty version of the main piazza's you are likely to visit. Don't forget to take some time and explore the city organically. This is exactly how I happened upon Piazza Navona and it turned out to be really neat.
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