The square is the center of life in Italy, so it goes without saying that there are many significant and historic public squares in the capital city of Rome. If you visit this southern Italian city, these are some of the most important and beautiful places in Rome and details on how to get there.
St. Peter’s Square / Plaza de San Pedro
St. Peter’s Square, the large square that overlooks St. Peter’s Basilica, is a major gathering place for tourists, especially during Christmas, Easter, and other faith-based Catholic festivals.
You can reach Piazza San Pietro from the long boulevard of Via della Conciliazione and also from the Metropolitana at the “San Pietro” stop in Ottaviano on line A of the Rome metro.
Piazza Campidoglio
Miguel Ángel designed this attractive plaza that develops on the Capitoline Hill. The Rome Capitol building (Campidoglio) is located in this square, as are the buildings that house the Capitoline Museums.
Piazza Campidoglio is best accessed by bus, and lines that stop at or near the site include 44, 46, 64, 70, 81, and 110.
Field of flowers
Formerly a ‘field of flowers’, Campo dei Fiori is a lively square and the site of one of Rome’s most beloved fruit and vegetable markets. Numerous cafes, restaurants and bars surround the Campo, making it an ideal stopover day or night. To get to Campo dei Fiori, take bus 40, 64 or 70 to Largo Argentina.
Piazza Navona
This large oblong square was the site of an ancient Roman circus. Today, Piazza Navona is a wonderful pedestrianized square where many locals take their evening stroll.
Piazza Navona has two spectacular fountains designed by Bernini. Surrounding the square is the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, as well as several ocher-colored palaces and buildings. You get to Piazza Navona by taking bus lines 56, 60, 85, 116, 492 from the Centro Storico.
Piazza di Spagna
The Piazza di Spagna is the location of the Spanish Steps, one of the most famous monuments in Rome. This square is dominated by the wide and monumental staircase that leads to the Trinità dei Monti church, but it also features a small Bernini fountain.
Locals, but mostly tourists, use the steps as a meeting and resting place, and are a perfect perch for observing the crowds of people who frequent the nearby fashion boutiques. Piazza di Spagna is on line A of the Rome metro, at the Spagna stop.
Piazza del Popolo
The “People’s Square” is one of the largest piazze in all of Italy. Located at the northern end of Via del Corso and within the ancient Porta Flaminia (Flaminian Gate), Piazza del Popolo is one of the most majestic squares in Rome.
Three churches and several fountains stand on the edge of the square and it is punctuated with a tall Egyptian obelisk. The Pincio Hill and Villa Borghese gardens overlook Piazza del Popolo, with many shops and restaurants just a short walk from its center. Piazza del Popolo can be reached via the Flaminia stop on line A of the Rome metro.
