A One Day Shopping Spree

Description:

Prati di Castello - or simply Prati - was built beside Castel Sant'Angelo at the end of the 19th c. It was developed around Via di Cola di Rienzo which is cut by a number of smaller parallel streets to form a chessboard pattern. Prati is bounded by Piazza Cola di Rienzo and Piazza Risorgimento which was recently renovated for the Jubilee. The district also borders Vittoria, and those of Santo Spirito and Sant'Angelo. The palaces in Prati are not particularly tall. The first were built in simply decorated forms but then Art Deco, Neo-Gothic and Medieval styles were introduced. The following buildings are particularly worthy of note: nos. 85, 212 and 243 Via Cola di Rienzo; the palaces that face onto Piazza Cola di Rienzo; certain buildings on Via Marcantonio Colonna; and 67 Via Andrea Doria, but there are many more.

Description:

Piazza Risorgimento forms the meeting place of Via Cola di Rienzo and the quieter Via Crescenzio; in the form of a long boat, the square has recently been restored for the Jubilee. New long stone benches, flower beds, palms and a new lighting system decorate the square. Despite its central position below St. Peter's, the square was a meeting place for street people and immigrants before the restoration work and was used for parking buses and trams at the end of their lines. Now the circulation has been organised more rationally.

Our Local Expert Says:

Piazza Venezia is perhaps the most central location in Rome with the Coliseum and Roman Forum to the right, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica to the left (across the river) and Via del Corso straight ahead leading to Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.

Description:

Beset on all sides by roads, the square is heavily congested with traffic. In the background, the Altare della Patria is dedicated to King Vittorio Emanuele. Romans refer to it as the 'wedding cake' or the 'typewriter' because of its shape and colour. Shortly after WW1, the body of the Unknown Soldier was brought here and placed in the centre of the steps of the Vittoriano. It has a permanent armed guard. Palazzo Venezia was built during the second half of the 15th c. and was where the Venetian ambassadors to Rome stayed. Later it became the residence of the Cardinal of the Basilica of St Mark.

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For centuries Via del Corso has been the main road of access to the city for pilgrims coming in from the north. Originally, it was known as Via Flaminia during the time of the Roman Empire, and then went on to be known as Via Lata in the Middle Ages. This road, measuring 1500 metres, connects Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo. Here, among other things, you can find elegant palaces dating back to ancient times. Most tourists today love taking a walk down this road only to lose themselves in ancient history and the essence of this culturally rich city.

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Tradition has it that throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain guarantees a swift return to the world's most beautiful city. Anita Ekberg's dip in it was immortalized in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita', and Italian actor Toto even sold it to an American, passing himself off as its owner. Earlier it was the setting for the award-winning "Three Coins in the Fountain" motion picture, ensuring its popularity worldwide. Designed by Nicola Salvi for Pope Clemente XII, it was completed in the second half of the 1700s. The statues in the centre represent Neptune supported by Tritons on either side while rococo-style Poli Palace provides the perfect backdrop.

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Via dei Condotti is one of the most elegant streets in the capital. It gets its name from conduits that used to take water to the baths of Agrippa near the Pantheon. On this street, which runs from Via del Corso to Piazza di Spagna, there are many upscale shops: Bulgari, Gucci, Ferragamo & Louis Vuitton, to name but a few. The shops are patronised by tourists and upper class Romans. The Caffé Greco, whose elegance and character are not to be missed, is also found on this street.

Description:

Leaving Piazza di Spagna behind you and heading towards Piazza del Popolo, you will find yourself on Via del Babuino, a trendy city-centre street lined with antique dealers, art galleries and exclusive boutiques. Some of the shops have a long history, such as the print shop, Disegni e quadri di Armando Pereira at number 110. Wagner and Poussin both used to live on this street.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Spanish Steps area is the cobblestone equivalent to Fifth Avenue in New York City or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, with upscale shops and expensive cafes. Every spring, the steps are covered with bright flowers.

Description:

An incredible, almost theatrical square with the lovely Spanish steps leading up to the Chiesa di Trinità dei Monti. One of the most important fashion shows is held here, the steps being used as a catwalk. It is now an international meeting point. The fountain known as the 'Barcaccia' (boat) was commissioned by Urbano Barberini to commemorate the alliance made with the King of France, whose coat of arms can be seen on Trinità dei Monti. The square leads into several famous streets, Via Dei Condotti, Via Frattina and Via Borgognona with their luxurious boutiques, and Via Del Babuino with its antique shops.

Description:

Grom is a gelateria that is frequented by not only tourists but Florentines as well. It has their own specific gusti (flavors) that really entice the new traveler. Founded in 2003 in Torino, it grew very successful and famous among the Italians. In fact, in 2007 Grom opened in New York it being the first city abroad to take on this delicious gelato. In Florence, there is constantly a line running along side the tiny shop near the Duomo.

Description:

During the Middle Ages, this square formed the main entrance to the city for pilgrims and travellers arriving on the Via Flaminia (from the north). It was only when Pope Sixtus V placed the 1200 BC Egyptian obelisk of Ramses II in the centre of the square that Piazza del Popolo took on its current function. The obelisk is the tip of the trident formed by the three streets that begin in the square: Via del Corso, Via di Ripetta and Via del Babuino. Valadier was the architect who gave the square its present elliptical appearance by building the two ramps that lead to the Pincio. Two shell-shaped fountains overlooked by groups of statues stand in the two hemicycles. Valadier was also responsible for the buildings on Via del Babuino and Via di Ripetta that are today occupied by the famous cafés Rosati and Canova.

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San Giovanni in Laterano is the oldest church in the world. It was founded by Pope Melchiade at the start of the 4th century on the ruins of the villa of the Roman family, the Laterani. The church's current appearance was created by Borromini for the 1650 Jubilee. Although he retained the 16th century ceiling and floor, the architect altered the appearance by joining pairs of columns in the central nave to make a single pillar inside. In this he built coloured marble niches and placed statues of the apostles. In 1735, Alessandro Galilei renewed the façade entirely in travertine stone and crowned it with 15 statues, and at the end of the 19th century the apse was also rebuilt. The admission to the basilica is free.

Our Local Expert Says:

Although highly debated, one of the best ice cream shops in the city is in this piazza: La Procope.

Description:

The Piazza dei Re di Roma is one of the few squares created at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was designed as part of a plan of 1909 that reshaped the whole area into the form of a star. Lots of streets end in this square, including the largest and most well known, Via Appia Nuova, which is full of shops. There is now a pleasant corner of the square where you can stop and rest in attractive gardens.

Our Local Expert Says:

Great establishment on a street off of Via Appia Nuova.

Description:

This extremely modern bar offers a vast choice of cocktails, long drinks and beers. Excellent food is available until late at night.

Description:

This restaurant has a wonderful view over Rome from San Pietro to the Campidoglio. The excellent cuisine is the merit of young and imaginative chef Fabrizio Caddei. Particularly noteworthy dishes include prawns scalded in spicy oil with Pachino aubergine and tarragon purée, grilled meats and fish, and desserts such as the "sugar tulip" with exotic fruit.

Description:

This is the first eatery in Rome where you can not only frequent a wine bar, pizzeria and a restaurant, but also a bookstore, a culinary library, Pralineria (praline shop), a wine merchant, as well as shops that specialise in cookery. Gusto's cuisine is influenced by the Orient; this can be seen in dishes such as Stir-fried Vegetables with Prawns, Crispy Chicken, Spaghetti, Vegetables and Ginger or Tempura (Japanese Fritters). It is conveniently situated in the Centro Storico. Booking is advisable.