Places in Rome
The squares in Rome set historical, architectural and tourist accents, which make up a large part of the special atmosphere of the "Eternal City". This article deals with the most important and famous Romformaless plazas .
Piazza del Campidoglio
The trapezoidal Piazza del Campidoglio ( Capitol Square ) on Capitoline Hill was designed by Michelangelo in its current form , including the star pattern set in white marble in the pavement. The equestrian statue of Marc Aurel rises in the middle of the square (a copy - the original is right next door in the Capitoline Museums). On three sides of the square of Renaissance palaces surrounded: the back of the Senatorial Palace ( Palazzo Senatorio ), left the curator Palace ( Palazzo dei Conservatori ) and right of the New Palace ( Palazzo Nuovo ). To the front, the square opens up to the large flight of stairs (the cordonata ), which leads up from below and which is bordered on the left and right by the statues of Castor and Pollux . Conservator's Palace and New Palace house the Capitoline Museums with world-class exhibits. If you walk through the gap between the Senatorial Palace and the Conservatory Palace, you come to a terrace from which you can completely overlook the Roman Forum . In the Palazzo Caffarelli , the terrace of the museum café (free access) offers a breathtaking view over the old town over to the Vatican . In the summer there are free concerts on Capitol Square.
Piazza Venezia
The Piazza Venezia at the foot of the Capitol Hill is considered to be the busy heart of Rome. On the south side of the rectangular square rises the Vittorio Emanuele Monument ( Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II ), jokingly called the typewriter by the Romans . The west side of the square is taken up by the Renaissance facade of Palazzo Venezia , which briefly served as the papal palace and then from 1564 to 1797 housed the Venetian representation to the Papal States.
Piazza Farnese
The Piazza Farnese in front of the Renaissance palace of the Farnese family, built by Michelangelo, captivates with its clear sobriety. Two large stone tubs from the Caracalla Baths were integrated into the two fountains on the square.
Campo de 'Fiori
The Campo de 'Fiori has had a market every weekday since 1869. Games, horse races and executions used to take place here. On February 17, 1600, the philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned on the Campo , whose monument is now in the center of the square. In the evening the square is a popular meeting place with many bars and restaurants. The Campo is the only larger square in Rome without a church.
The Piazza Navona is located on the spot where Emperor Domitian had built a stadium for chariot races. The shape of the square corresponds to the elongated, oval shape of the stadium. The surrounding buildings are built on the foundations of the stadium stands. Around 1500 the place was used for bullfights. In the 18th century, the place was flooded to allow boat trips on the artificial lake that was created. Piazza Navona has been the center of the Roman Carnival since the beginning of modern times. Three baroque fountains adorn the Piazza Navona: Bernini's four rivers fountain in the center and the Mohr and Neptune fountains at both ends of the square. In the middle of the western side of the square, Borromini's baroque church of Sant 'Agnese in Agone rises . Tourists crowd the square all day and also in the evening. Accordingly, there are plenty of souvenir sellers, jugglers, street painters, cafes and restaurants here.
Piazza della Rotonda
The Piazza della Rotonda is the impressive forecourt of the Pantheon . In the square there is a fountain with the Obelisco Macuteo .
Piazza della Minerva
On the Piazza della Minerva in front of the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva there is a gem: Bernini's little marble elephant with the Obelisco della Minerva on his back.
Piazza Colonna
Political Rome is concentrated at the Piazza Colonna with the huge triumphal column of the emperor Marc Aurel . The Italian Prime Minister sits in the Palazzo Chigi , next to it the parliament meets in the Palazzo Montecitorio , which the Romans mockingly call Transatlantico because of its size reminiscent of an ocean liner .
Piazza del Popolo
Travelers coming from the north used to reach the city via Via Flamina and the city gate Porta del Popolo (formerly Porta Flamina ). Behind the city wall you pass the church of Santa Maria del Popolo on the left and then you reach the oval Piazza del Popolo . In the center of the square rises one of the largest obelisks in Rome ( Obelisco Flaminio ), which is surrounded by fountains and water-spouting lions. From the piazza, three streets radiate into the city: Via del Babuino goes left to Piazza di Spagna , on the right you come to Via di Ripetta to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, and in the middle begins the main shopping street of Rome, Corso ( Via del Corso ).
Piazza di Spagna
The Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps is named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See , which is located here. In the square is the Fontana della Barcaccia , built by Pietro Bernini , which depicts a sinking ship.
Piazza del Quirinale
The seat of the Italian President is on Quirinal Hill . From the Piazza del Quirinale in front of the Quirinal Palace you have a pretty good view over the roofs of Rome. In the square is one of the Obelisks of Rome ( Obelisco del Quirinale ).
Piazza della Repubblica
The semicircular arcaded buildings of the Piazza della Repubblica correspond to the shape of the exedra of the Dioclethian baths that were located here. The Naiad fountain on the square was built in 1885 and redesigned in 1900 and 1912. The church of Santa Maria degli Angeli was built by Michelangelo into the ruins of the Baths of Dioclethian.
St. Peter's Square
The St. Peter's Square ( Piazza San Pietro ) in front of the St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most magnificent places in Rome. Bernini planned the oval complex with the colonnades, which was completed in 1667. The Obelisco Vaticano is located in St. Peter's Square .
Piazza di Porta San Giovanni
On the Piazza di Porta San Giovanni on the Aurelian Wall near the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano , the Concerto per celebrare il Primo Maggio has been taking place every year since 1990 on the first of May , the Festa del lavoro , at which in 1996 around 500,000 and In 2006 around 1.5 million visitors took part.