The most beautiful squares in the capital of Italy

It is difficult to imagine Rome without its monuments, the symbolic places of a glorious past, its art. Among the most important places, the squares are very peculiar. Meeting points, but also symbol of the beauty of the city, they represent the focus of the city for tourists and citizens.
Surrounded by wonderful buildings, meeting points, green areas, street artists and magical atmosphere take place there. But which are the most typical squares in the city, visitors could never miss? Here you are what you can't miss visiting the Eternal City.

Piazza Bocca della Verità
Maybe you know the movie "Vacanze Romane", with its princess played by Audrey Hepburn, during her wonderful holiday in the capital of Italy. One of the most famous scenes of the movie surely is the one in which Gregory Peck pretends to lose his hand in the Bocca della Verità, so scaring the protagonist. But which is the history of this moment, now one of the most important symbols of the city?
Today, the stone is stored in Santa Maria in Cosmedin church, but not everybody knows it was situated in another place in the past: it was a sewer cover, representing the sea swimming with an open mouth. If you are near Piazza Bocca della Verità, it really deserves a visit, and why don’t you try to put your hand into its big mouth? But, please, pay attention, because the legend that the mouth eats the liars' hands! Around the square, you can see other beautiful monuments, such as Hercules temple (from 120 B.C.), wrongly known as Vesta's temple, and Giano's arch.

Piazza Fontana di Trevi
Among the Roman squares, one of the most beautiful ones is Piazza Fontana di Trevi, visited by tourists from all over the world. But why is it so famous? In addition to its evident beauty, it has become one of the Eternal City symbols. Moreover, it is not a coincidence Fellini decided to use it for his movie "La dolce vita", making it the protagonist of the unforgettable moment in which Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni were protagonists.
The history of the fountain and its fame, however, started before the movie, dating back the 15th century, when it was built. It was actually a simple fountain made of three mouths, pouring water in the three streets meeting into the square. Over the centuries, the fountains has been changed several times.
Its current aspect dates back to 1732, when the artist Nicola Salvi completed it. Today, thanks to the tradition of launching a coin in it, it is an unmissable destination for the Roman visitors, expressing the will of coming back there once again.

   


St. Peter's square
St Peter's square is one of the most famous squares in Rome, and every year it welcomes millions of pilgrims and visitors, whose destination is the Basilica with the same name. In addition to be a symbol of the city, the square is also a symbol of the Christian religion, and an example of how architecture can communicate and interact with the people.
The oval space surrounded by columns hugs the people reaching the church. Walking there, gives you a strong emotion and a sensation of welcoming, according to several people's opinion. If you have decided to visit Rome, you can't miss a walk in Piazza San Pietro, always crowded.

Piazza Navona
If you are walking around the city centre, you will probably arrive in Piazza Navona, even if you're not directly going there. It is actually is so easy to get there, because several lanes of the city centre reach it. You will recognize it because of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, by Bernini, and thanks to Sant'Agnese in Agone church. During the Christmas holidays, the square is crowded by the most beautiful stands of sweets and handmade products of the city. You can't miss it!

   


Piazza di Spagna
One are the best places you have to visit in Rome is Piazza di Spagna, surrounded by the great stairs of Trinità dei Monti. Often setting of social and fashion events, this square are also a meeting point for people doing shopping in the luxurious Via dei Condotti.
The several bars, clubs, and restaurants situated there make it their favourite destinations for people looking for relax in the city centre. The true focal point of the square is undoubtedly the famous Barcaccia, the Baroque fountain by Pietro and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Piazza del popolo
An obelisk, two twin churches, fountains and a frame of architectural wonders: if you have already had the good fortune to visit Rome, you will have recognized the elements that characterize the splendid Piazza del Popolo.
What is striking about this square is definitely the generosity of its spaces that seem to be made to welcome many people. Maybe that is what inspired the name of the square, though-most likely-it is a corruption of the Latin ''populs” (poplar), since it seems that there was a forest of poplars. Long-walks lovers can stop there, after having crossed the Trident, and before going to the Pincio. A fun fact: the Egyptian obelisk in the middle of the square dates back to the Pharaonic era, but it was put there only in the 16th century, by Pope Gregory XIII. Before then, the monument was in Rome, from the Augustan age, near the Circo Massimo.

Do you want to stay in Rome?

For this location we recommend Hotel Oxford, the ideal starting point to discover Rome!

06/08/2018
Piazza Bocca della VeritàPiazza di SpagnaPiazza del Popolo