

The Trevi fountain is probably the most famous fountain in the world. The Trevi fountain and the Neptune statue at the centre. Worth the quick stop.įrom the Piazza Mignanelli, we can take the Via Frattina back to the main Via del Corso to peruse the shops until we reach the Via delle Muratte and go left to the Piazza di Trevi. The interesting column has the symbols of the evangelists on the globe and statues of Moses, David, Ezekiel and Isaiah at the base. The ancient Roman column is topped with a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary with a crown of 12 stars standing on a globe. The square has a 19 th century Marian column named, the Column of the Immaculate Conception.

The Spanish Steps are a favourite place for tourists to sit, relax and enjoy the square.Ī hundred meters south from the Spanish Square is the smaller Piazza Mignanelli. The famous 135 steps connecting the square to the church were built in the 18 th century. Looking up from the square is the Church of Trinità dei Monti. The fountain features the Pope’s family (Barberini) emblem with suns and bees. The fountain was designed by Pietro Bernini, the father of the famous artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, for Pope Urban VIII in 1623. The center of the square has the Boat Fountain (Fontana della Barcaccia). The Piazza di Spagna, or “Spanish Square” is named after the Palazzo di Spagna (Spanish Palace) which has been on the square since the 17 th century and operates as the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican. The Spanish Steps on Piazza di Spagna, the Church of Trinità dei Monti and the Boat Fountain. We will leave the square on the Via del Babuino and walk for about 600 meters until we arrive at the Piazza di Spagna. On the right is the Via di Ripetta and on the left is the Via del Babuino. The other two streets are located on either side of the churches. The two churches are separated by the main shopping street, the Via del Corso. There are three main streets leading from the Piazza del Popolo. They look identical from the outside although they have different interiors. On the south side of the square there are two churches, the Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Santa Maria in Montesanto. By climbing the stairs on the east side of the square, you will reach the Pincio Hill Terrace (Terrazza del Pincio) and have a great panoramic view of the square and beyond. The obelisk was once located in the Circus Maximus, where Romans enjoyed chariot races. Just inside the gate you should pop in to the Santa Maria del Popolo basilica to see two magnificent canvases by Caravaggio.Īt the centre of the square is an Egyptian obelisk dedicated to Ramesses II.

Our walk starts at the Piazza del Popolo, or the “People’s Square.” The large oval square is located inside the northern gate to the city (Porta Flaminia). You can find a google map of our walk at Piazza del Popolo from Pincio Park, the two churches on the south and the north gate. This story outlines a walk that we suggest to see some of central Rome’s great landmarks and squares at their leisure.
#Grand ages rome city blocks free
Once we have completed those great tours, our travelers enjoy a free day in Rome to sightsee, shop and explore the city on their own. We always include guided tours of the Vatican and of Ancient Rome on all of our Azorcan tours to Rome. If you do a tour of Ancient Rome, be sure that you enter into the Colosseum. The impressive ruins of Ancient Rome, which include Trajan’s Forums, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum are essential for any visitor of Rome.

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Peter’s Basilica require a full day of exploration. The Vatican’s vast square, impressive museums, Sistine chapel, and St. The Vatican, the centre of the Catholic Church for billions of followers, is an independent state situated inside of Rome. The city’s culture, landmarks, monuments and myths have drawn visitors from every corner of the world. With close to 3 million residents in the city proper, Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union. The following year Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy which, in 1946, became the Italian Republic. When Rome had a vast Empire, it gained the nickname “Caput Mundi” or “Capital of the World.”Īfter the fall of the Roman Empire in the west, the city came under control of the Papacy and it became the capital of the Papal States until 1870. During it’s highest point, it became the capital of the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and Roman Empire. The Eternal City was initially settled by a mix of Etruscans, Latins and Sabines. Rome’s history spans three millennia and is one of Europe’s oldest occupied cities.
