Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Showtime on Rome's Piazzas
From the baroque splendour of Piazza Navona to the clamour of Campo de' Fiori and
the majesty of St Peter's Square, Rome's showcase piazzas encapsulate much of the
city's beauty, history and drama.
Piazza Navona
In the heart of the historic centre, Piazza Navona (
Click here
) is the picture-perfect
Roman square. Graceful baroque
palazzi
(mansions), flamboyant fountains, packed
pavement cafes and costumed street artists set the scene for the daily invasion of
camera-toting tourists.
St Peter's Square
The awe-inspiring approach to St Peter's Basilica, this monumental piazza (
Click
here
) is a masterpiece of 17th-century urban design. The work of Bernini, it's centred
on a towering Egyptian obelisk and flanked by two grasping colonnaded arms.
Piazza del Popolo
Neoclassical Piazza del Popolo (
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) is a vast, sweeping spectacle. In centur-
ies past, executions were held here; nowadays crowds gather for political rallies, out-
door concerts or just to hang out.
Piazza del Campidoglio
The centrepiece of the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), this Michelangelo-designed
piazza (
Click here
) is thought by many to be the city's most beautiful. Surrounded on
three sides by
palazzi
, it's home to the Capitoline Museums.
Campo de' Fiori
Campo de' Fiori (
Click here
) is the cousin of the more refined Piazza Navona, with
market traders and an unpretentious atmosphere.
Piazza di Spagna
In Rome's swank shopping district, Piazza di Spagna (
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) has long attracted
footsore foreigners who come to sit on the Spanish Steps and watch the world go by.
