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The Steps

North Central Rome is a district that covers the areas around Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo and Parioli, as well as the magnificent Villa Borghese and its gardens. Further out the area is bordered by Via Nomentana and the River Tiber and includes the area of Salario.

Understand

Spagna lies in the northern part of the central city, to the west of the park of the Villa Borghese. It includes the Piazza di Spagna and the famous Spanish Steps. It is one of the most fashionable and well-heeled districts of the Italian capital.

Parioli is a quiet, affluent and elegant Rome neighborhood close to Villa Borghese. The name originates from a gigantic wall called "parietone".

Salario, just to the northwest of the Modern Center and the Villa Borghese, is another elegant, upscale neighborhood, home to a large and beautiful park, Villa Ada.

Trieste is also a quiet affluent and elegant neighborhood, close to the Parioli and Villa Ada. It is full of Fascist architecture and early Christian churches such as Sant’Agnese Fuori Le Mura.

Get in

Map
41°55′26″N 12°29′49″E
Map of Rome/North Centre

This is still the centre of Rome. It is served by the Metro Line A with stops at Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps and Borghese Gardens) and Piazza del Popolo. Piazza di San Silvestro, which is a short walk from the Spanish Steps, is a terminal for many bus lines.

See

Antique Rome

Ara Pacis
  • 1 Ara Pacis, Lungotevere in Augusta. Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, 24th and 31st December 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Closed Mondays, January 1st, May 1st and December 25th. Ara Pacis is an altar to Peace commissioned by the Roman Senate on 4 July 13 BC to honor the triumphal return from Hispania and Gaul of Augustus. It is universally recognised as a masterpiece. Following discovery of this work under a building in Rome, Mussolini built a protective building for it near the Mausoleum of Augustus, where it was reconstructed. A new building on the same site as Mussolini's was opened in 2006 and has been controversial. The mayor at the time said he would tear down the new structure. The basement of the new building features occasional exhibitions. € 6.50 reductions € 4.50. 
  • 2 Mausoleo di Augusto (Mausoleum of Augustus), Piazza Augusto Imperatore (Just behind the Ara Pacis, bus no 81,117,492,628), ☏ +39 0667103819. by appointment only. This is a large tomb built by the Roman Emperor Augustus in 28 BC in the form of a stone ring covered by an earth mound. A brick wall, 87 meters in diameter, carried an earth mound covered with cypresses. On top of the hill stood a bronze monument of the emperor. The building was 44 meters high. At the beginning of the alley, which led to the tomb were two Egyptian obelisks. On both sides of the doorway bronze plates describe the "Res gestae", the deeds of the emperor. The urns of Augustus, Marcellus, Octavia, Agrippa, Drusus and other members of the Julian Claudian dynasty were revered here. In the Middles Ages the building served as citadel of the Colonna family. It was destroyed by Pope Gregor IX in 1241. The body of Cola di Rienzo. a popular leader of the people in the mid-14th Century, was burnt in this monument. The Mausoleo di Augusto is not currently open to the public, and is fenced off. 

Catacombs

  • 3 Catacomb of Priscilla, Via Salaria 430 (enter through the cloister of the monastery of the Benedictines of Priscilla. Buses 86, 92, 310 from Termini station), ☏ +39 06-86206272, fax: +39 06-86398134. 8.30 - 12.00 and 14.30 - 17.00 closed Mondays. Underground burial place of an ancient Roman family and of seven early popes. Euros 6. 
Piazza del Popolo

Churches

  • 4 Santa Maria del Popolo, Piazza del Popolo 12 (bus nr 95, 117, 119, 490), ☏ +39 063610836. Mon to Sat 7am to 12noon, 4 to 7 pm., Sun 7.30am to 1.30pm, 4.30to 7.30pm. This is a treasure-trove of art. There are a couple of paintings by Caravaggio: "The Crucifixion of Saint Peter" and "The Conversion of Saint Paul" together with a sculpture by Bernini, frescoes by Pinturicchio and mosaics by Raphael. Part of the Dan Brown tour, this church featured in Angels and Demons, although the Vatican did not allow filming inside. 
  • 5 Santissima Trinità dei Monti, Piazza della Trinità dei Monti 1 (Metro Spagna, bus 116,117,119), ☏ +39 066794179. 9am to 1pm, 3 to 7pm. Baroque church more noted for its position at the top of the Spanish Steps than for the church itself. Backdrop for numerous movies including Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday. 
Inside Rome's mosque
  • 6 Rome's Mosque, Viale della Moschea, 85 (situated to the west of Villa Ada), ☏ +39 06 8082167, +39 06 8082258. Wed & Sun from 9:00 to 11:30 excluding Ramadan, Italian holidays and August. The Rome Mosque, which was inaugurated in 1995, is the biggest in Europe. The inside of the 30,000 m² structure has a large prayer hall that uses tri-stemmed columns that imitate the features of trees. 
  • 7 Santa Constanza, Via Nomentana 349 (bus nr 36,60, 84, 90), ☏ +39 068610840. Mon to Sat 9am-noon, 4-6pm, Sun 4-6pm. 
  • Sant Agnese fuori le mura, Via Nomentana 349 (bus nr 36, 60, 84,090), ☏ +39 068610840. daily 9am-noon, 4-6pm. 

Historical Squares and Streets

Quartiere Coppedè
  • 8 Piazza del Popolo. This is the largest square in Rome. It sometimes hosts pop concerts and is the focal point for Rome's New Year's Eve celebrations. The twin churches Santa Maria dei Miracoli (1681) and Santa Maria in Montesanto (1679) used to provide a clear welcome to Rome for those coming from the north. Much older, to the north of the piazza is yet another Santa Maria (see below). The Piazza del Popolo is considered as one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. It was enlarged and two streets, the Via di Ripetta and the Via del Babuino were added by order of Pope Sixtus V. In the middle of the square is an obelisk (see below). In 1809-1816, Giuseppe Valadier, Roman architect of French origin, gave the square the its characteristic oval shape. 
  • 9 Quartiere Coppedè (part of the neighborhood of ‘Trieste’) (Bus no. 92, 63, 630, 86). With its strange Liberty- style buildings with influence from the Art Nouveau of the 1920s this small bunch of blocks is one of the most interesting, and less known, landmarks of the city. A must see. 
Fountain of the Old Boat: Piazza di Spagna
  • 10 The Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Spagna). A truly monumental stairway of 135 steps, built with French funds between 1721‑1725 in order to link the Bourbon Spanish embassy to the Holy See (still located in the piazza below), with the Bourbon French church (its monastery founded in 1495) above. 
  • 11 Piazza di Spagna (Metro Spagna, bus nr 116,117,119). The Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square) is the most famous square in Rome. For a very long time it was the meeting point of all foreigners coming to Rome. In the 17th cent it was the residence of the Spanish Ambassador to the Holy See. The area around the residence was Spanish territory and foreigners who stayed here without permission were forced to serve in the Spanish army. The Fontana della Barcaccia (Old Boat Fountain) on Piazza di Spagna was designed and built in 1627-29 by Pietro Bernini, father of the more famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The fountain celebrates the fact that before high walls were built along the banks of the Tiber Rome often used to flood. Once the waters were so high that a boat ended up in the square. The decorations on the fountain imitatie the coat of arms of Pope Urban VII, Barberini who ordered the fountain to be built. A less aesthetic occupant of the square is Italy's first McDonalds, dating back to 1986. Also in the piazza is a column erected in 1856 to commemorate the Immaculate Conception. The column is topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, and rests on a base with statues of Moses, David, Isaiah and Ezekiel. The Pope visits the Piazza every year on December 8th to celebrate Immaculate Conception. 
  • 12 Ponte Milvio (Metro Spagna, bus nr 116,117,119). This pedestrian-only bridge was originally built in 206 BC and marks the passage of the Roman Via Flaminia over the Tiber. In 115 BC, the original bridge was demolished and rebuilt. It has been restored and remodelled several times since. In 2006, the bridge began attracting couples who, influenced by a movie, used a lamppost on the bridge to hang padlocks as a sign of their love, locking the padlock to the lamppost, then throwing the key behind them into the river. In 2007 the lamppost collapsed under the weight! Feeling sorry for the lovers the mayor ordered construction of steel posts, where padlocks can once again be hung. 
The lamppost of love at the Ponte Milvio

Historical buildlings

  • 13 Villa Medici, Viale Trinità dei Monti, 1 (Turn left at the top of the Spanish Steps. About 200m on your right.), ☏ +39 06-98968905. Guided tour of gardens in English daily at 11.45. The villa was erected by order of Cardinal Ricci di Montepulciano in 1544. It was acquired by Cardinal Fernando di Medici in 1576. Since 1803 it is the French Academy in Rome. The academy was created in 1666 by the French King Louis XIV in order to enable painters to study in Rome. Nicolas Poussin was one of the first students, Ingres was director and Fragonard and Boucher were students of the French Academy, but also musicians like Berlioz and Debussy studied here. Today the villa hosts occasional concerts and exhibitions. Its gardens can be visited. Euros 8. 
  • 14 Villa Albani (Bus no. 92, 63, 630, 86. Tram 19). A magnificent patrician house with beautiful gardens. It was built by order of Cardinal Alessando Albani in 1743-1763 in order to accommodate his collection of art. The collection was taken care of by the Winkelmann, adviser and friend of the cardinal. In Rome, Winkelmann wrote his "Geschichte der Kunst des Altertumns (HIstory of the Art of Antiquity)", which made him the founder of classical archaeology. The painted ceiling of the great hall depicting Mount Parnassus is by the German painter Anton Raphael Mengs who was considered as the greatest painter in Rome in the 18th cent. 
  • 15 Villa Ada (To the left of Via Salaria. Bus no. 92, 310, 63, 630, 86). Beautiful park, the largest in Rome at 450 acres/182 hectares. Hosts concerts on summer evenings. former summer residence of Italian monarchs. 

Gardens

  • 16 Borghese Gardens. The extensive Borghese Gardens are a pleasant place to stroll. Inside this area you will find one of the world's great museums, Rome's Zoo, a pond where you can rent a rowing boat and the Piazza di Siena, which hosts an annual show jumping event. 
  • 17 Pincio. The Pincio Park is situated near Piazza del Popolo. It was designed in the 19th cent by Giuseppe Valadier, who also designed the Piazza del Popolo. Formlerly the Casina Valadier was an elegant restaurant. Gandhi, Mussolini, Richard Strauss and the Egyptian King Farouk were customers there. There are many evergreen bushes, palm and pine trees on bothe sides of the paths. Don't miss the view from Piazzale Napoleone I. to the Vatican and Rome from Monte Mario to Gianicolo. Walking through the park from Villa Borghese or along Viale Trinita del Monti is greatly recommended, especcially at sunset. In the park there is an Egyptian obelisk erected by Emperor Hadrianus over the grave of his favourite slave Antinos, who had saved the emperor's life and from then on was adored like a God. 

Museums

  • 18 MAXXI (Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo (National Museum of 21st Century Art)), Via Guido Reni 4a (Tram No. 2 and buses 53, 217, 280, and 910. Around 2km northwest of Piazza del Popolo along Via Flaminia, close to the Parco della Musica and Stadio Flaminio.), ☏ +39 06 39967350, . Tue-Fri, Sun 11:00-19:00, Sat 11:00-22:00, Mon closed. Brand new museum designed to celebrate the art and architecture of the 21st Century. €10 adults, €8 concessions. 
  • 19 MACRO (Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Roma), Via Nizza 138 (bus no 36, 60, 84, 90), ☏ +39 06 6710 70400, . Tue-Sun 10:30-19:00 (last admission 1 hour before closing), Mon closed. Rome's museum of contemporary art, housed in a former industrial complex. Rotating exhibitions, each one usually lasting about 4 months. The MACRO Testaccio exhibition space is located in Aventino-Testaccio. €13.50 adults, €11.50 concessions. 
  • 20 Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna (GNAM) (the National Gallery of Modern Art), Via delle Belle Arti 131 (Up the hill from Villa Giulia or down the hill from the zoo.), ☏ +39 06 322 981. Tu-Su 08.30-19.30. An underrated way to see fantastic art made after the Renaissance. Mainly Italian artists, notably De Chirico, but Cézanne, Degas, Kandinsky, Man Ray, Modigliani, Monet, Pollock and Van Gogh are also represented. Full ticket €10; various discounts available. 
Villa Borghese
  • 21 Borghese Museum and Gallery (Galleria Borghese), Piazzale Museo Borghese (Parco di Villa Borghese, ☏ +39 06 8555952, +39 06 32810 (booking), fax: +39 06 32651329, . Tu-Su 9AM-7PM (note: Mandatory exit at the end of allotted 2 hour slot, ticket office closes at 6.30pm). A lovely display in a beautiful villa setting, which concentrates on the quality rather than the size of its collection. There are some very notable works by Antonio Canova and Gian Lorenzo Bernini here, Bernini's Apollo and Daphneis quite amazing. It also houses some of Caravaggio paintings, well worth the admission charge. The number of people admitted is limited to 360 every 2 hours, so it is best to make a reservation on-line [1] well in advance for the time slot you want. No cameras are allowed. Allow plenty of time to get from the metro to the museum - from the metro stop you can't see the museum and there are no signs, so it can take awhile to find (taxis can drop you off at the entrance to the park but you will still have to walk a bit from there). If you are late for your reservation the museum may not allow you to use your ticket. Originally, the gallery was one of the most magnificent private art collections in the world. It was founded by Cardinal Scipione Borghese. At the beginning of the 19th cent Prince Camillo Borghese sold great parts of the collections to Paris where today they belong to the most valuable exhibits of the Louvre. Since 1902 the villa and the gallery are owned by the Italian state. Full and Student €12.50, Concessions €9.00. 
The stunningly beautiful 6th Century BC Etruscan Sarcophagus of the Husband and Wife at the Villa Giulia Museum
  • 22 Villa Giulia National Gallery (Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia), Piazzale di Villa Giulia, 9, Villa Borghese 00196 - Roma (Northwest of the Villa Borghese park), ☏ +39 063201951. Tue to Sun 8:30AM-7:30PM. Closed Jan 1st, Dec 25th. The most extensive collection of Etruscan art and artifacts anywhere. Fantastic collection and well worth the admission charge. A difficult museum to find, but a lovely display in a beautiful villa setting. Full: €8.00 Concessions for students and pensioners. 
  • 23 Keats-Shelley Memorial House, Piazza di Spagna 26. The house in which the famous English poet John Keats succumbed to consumption, now preserved as a memorial to his life and that of his friend Shelley, both of whom are buried in Rome's Protestant Cemetery (see Testaccio). 
  • 24 Goethe's House (Casa di Goethe), Via del Corso 18 (bus nr 95, 447, 119, 490, 495, 629, 926), ☏ +39 0632650412. Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed (last admission 30min before closing). €5 adults, €3 concessions. 
  • 25 Museo delle Paste Alimentari, Via Flaminia, 141, ☏ +39 06 699 1119. Daily 9:30AM-5:30PM, closed public holidays. A museum devoted to pasta, Italy's premier gift to world cuisine. 

Zoo

  • 26 Bioparco. From 09.30 to 17.00 or 18.00 depending on the month. The renamed Rome Zoo, one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1911. On the edge of the Borghese Gardens, a short, well-signposted walk from the Gallery. They try hard, but San Diego this isn't. If you are a regular zoo-goer you will be disappointed. 

Obelisks and statues

  • Piazza del Popolo Obelisk. According to an inscription Emperor Augustus dedicated the obelisk to the sun in the 11th year of his consulate (10BC), after he had annexed Egypt to Rome. The obelisk is 24 m high. Originally it stood in Heliopolis in Egypt and was dedicated to Pharao Sethos I (1313-1292 BC) and Pharoa Ramses II(1292-1275 BC). Augustus brought the obelisk to the Circus Maximus, where it was rediscovered in 1587, broken into three pieces and was relocated to Piazze del Popolo on the orders of Pope Sixtus V in 1589. 
  • Statue of Lord Byron, Borghese Gardens. Statue by Thorvaldsen 
  • Statue of Goethe, Borghese Gardens. 
  • Statue of Victor Hugo, Borghese Gardens. 

Do

  • Rent a boat and take a row on the lake in the Borghese Gardens.
  • 1 Auditorium Parco della Musica, Viale Pietro de Coubertin (to the north of Rome close to the Via Flaminia. Not exactly easy to reach from major tourist areas. Bus 910 and 217 from Termini Station; Linea ‘M’ special bus route between Termini Station and Auditorium, from 17:00 every 15 min on concert nights. Tram: No. 2 from Piazzale Flaminio. Trains: Metro A line to Flaminio then No.2 tram.). The Auditorium at Parco della Musica is a large complex on the north side of Rome, built on a site that was part of the 1960 Olympic area. It is composed of three separate halls whose shapes are inspired by musical instruments. These are positioned around an open air amphitheatre, that is used nearly every night in the summer for concerts. The interiors are entirely made of cherry-wood, which provides for good acoustics. The Parco della Musica opened in 2002 and now hosts a constant stream of classical, popular, and jazz music, featuring national as well as international musicians and groups. Refreshments available and there is a good book shop. 

Buy

The streets to the west of the Spanish Steps, such as Via dei Condotti, house Rome's most upmarket shops. Most of the famous designer labels can be found here.

Eat

  • Antico Caffe, Via Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, 25, ☏ +39 06 69190704. Very nice restaurant on the main alleyway between Trevi Fontana and Piazza de Spagna. For 9 Euro, you get a large choice of pasta with two vegetable sides, bread, and a bottle of mineral water. The house wine is especially good. 
  • Il Margutta RistorArte, via Margutta, 118 (near the Spanish Steps), ☏ +39 06 32650577, . Lunch Buffet and Dinner Menu. A fairly decent vegetarian lunch buffet. The staff can point out the vegan eats. A decent value for the money. Near where Fellini once lived. 
  • Fiaschetteria Beltramme da Cesaretto, Via della Croce 39. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. Outdoor seating available. Cash only. Walls lined with interesting art and at least one communal table. Small, traditional menu but the best dishes are the pastas and the simple bresaola, rughetta and parmigiano plate. Recommended dishes are the tonnarelli cacio & pepe and maltagliati al sugo. 
  • Trattoria Fauro, Via R.Fauro 44 (near Parioli theatre), ☏ +39 06068083301. closed Sun. 26 to 34 €. 
  • Mamma Angelina, Viale Arrigo Boito 65, ☏ +39 068608929. closed Wed and Aug. 20-32 €. 

Drink

  • 1 Babington's Tea Rooms, Piazza di Spagna 23. open 9.30am-8.30pm, closed Tuesdays. situated right next to the base of the Spanish Steps, a veritable tourist trap, so be warned....! Ridiculously over-inflated prices... Cheapest pot of tea, €8!! First opened in 1896 in order to fortify homesick English tourists, once famous as a tranquil English haven in a Latin ocean, now serving tea and scones (and more) with considerably less charm and even less value. Take a look inside if you must, otherwise, avoid like the plague. 
  • 2 Antico Caffe Greco, Via dei Condotti 86 (a few steps from the Spanish Steps), ☏ +39 066791700. Ancient and famous coffee bar, with walls lined with art work. Worth a quick look even if you find the prices a bit excessive. 
  • 3 Babette caffe-ristorante, Via Margutta, 1/d (off Via Babuino near Piazza del Popolo), ☏ +39 06 32 11 559. opens at 1pm. Lovely lunch buffet. Everything fresh out of the kitchen. Much more expensive on weekends. Always best to reserve. A nice way to sample lots of different Italian foods without having to order an antipasti, primi, secondi, etc. 12 euros. 
  • Beershop (Beershop), Via Flaminia 506 (5 minutes from Piazzale Ponte Milvio), ☏ +39 06 96845654. 4 PM - 10 PM. The smallest Beershop in Rome, providing more than 400 beers from all over the world. With a special selection of beers from Italian microbreweries, this is the perfect place for beer enthusiasts. 

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

  • Excel Roma Montemario, via degli Scolopi 31, Montemario Area, zona Trionfale, tel. +39 0635058001, email: booking@excelmontemario.it, fax: +39 063070392, sito: http://www.excelmontemario.it, check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00, budget: €75/€148. This hotel has open air pool, restaurant, free parking and fitness center.
  • Hotel Cinquantatre, Via di San Basilio, 53 (2 min from Barberini metro stop.), ☏ +39 06 42014708. Hotel is in an old building with a roof-top terrace, rooms are with satellite TV, A/C and a safe, some with balcony as well. From €70. 
  • Hotel Condotti, Via Mario de' Fiori, 37, ☏ +39 06 679 4661, fax: +39 06 679 0457. Single rooms from €136, double rooms from €175, triple rooms from €209, quadruple rooms from €223. 
  • Imperial Suite Rome, ☏ +39 06 8554515, fax: +39 06 4817613. Corso d'Italia 92. A guest house with single, double, twin and triple bedrooms. All with private bath, internet connection and living area. €80/€95 single/double rooms. All rates include the breakfast served directly in the guests’ rooms. 

Splurge

  • Les Fleurs Luxury House, Via Mario de' Fiori 24 (Next to the Spanish Steps), ☏ +39 06 69921341, fax: +39 06 69790498. Cosy guest house with double and twin standard bedrooms €260, double deluxe, junior suite €380 and double for single use €230. All rates include breakfast and en-suites services with shower and bathtub or Jacuzzi. 
  • The Duke Hotel, Via Archimede, 69 (Next to Villa Borghese), ☏ +39 06 367221. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. single rooms from €140, double rooms from €140. 
  • 4 Intown Luxury House, Via Bocca di Leone, 7, ☏ +39 06 69380200. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Single, double, junior suite and terraced junior suite. All rooms with A/C, LCD TV sets with satellite channels, hi-speed Internet connection, safe, minibar and direct telephone line. Bathrooms are fitted with marble and Jacuzzi tubs and/or showers. 290. 
  • Best Western Astrid, Largo Antonio Sarti, 4, ☏ +39 06 3236371, fax: +39 06 3220806, . A big hotel in a quiet area of Rome. The staff is friendly and makes the stay very enjoyable. The rooms are clean and spacious and there’s a daily replenishment of the minibar at no cost. The 5th-floor breakfast room has great views of the Tiber and St. Peter's Dome. The bar is closed at night and there isn't much nightlife in the area apart from a few good restaurants. €115-165. 
  • Spagna Royal Suite Rome, Via Mario de' Fiori 3, ☏ +39 06 69923793, fax: +39 06 69290948. Boutique hotel. Double, triple and quadruple rooms divided in standard, comfort, deluxe and executive. All with private bath. Rates change according to the season, starting from £239 for a double standard and €399 for a triple deluxe. 
  • Town House Spagna, Via della Croce 50/a, ☏ +39 06 68892351. Relatively new town house 50 m away from Piazza di Spagna. 10 rooms, each with private bathrooms. Up to date facilities. €110-210 Standard room. 
  • B&B Le Muse, Via Giacinta Pezzana 68 (near Villa Ada), ☏ 3487266630. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 10:00. €65. 

Connect

Go next

Routes through North Centre
North Rome ← Vatican ←  W Rome Metro Line A E  → Modern Center → South Rome
Modern Center ← Nomentano ←  SW Rome Metro Line B1 NE  → North Rome → END
Orte ← North Rome ←  N Lazio regional railway line FL1 S  → Nomentano → Fiumicino Airport


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