11 Best Piazza In Rome, Italy: A Guide To Its Most Iconic Squares & Plazas

Are you looking for the best piazza in Rome? I got you covered. I have been around Rome and visited various piazzas that are worth visiting due to their aesthetics and history. I highly suggest to included these beautiful piazzas on your visit to the Eternal City.

Rome has it all: some of the best food, incredible sightseeing, authentic Italian streets, and incredible history. This wonderful city has piazzas at every turn, all of which are brimming with exciting opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture.

A Piazza is a marketplace located in the centre of Italian cities or towns. Along with impressive structures, restaurants, bars, and shops, these impressive squares provide a space for community gatherings.

Piazzas, with their beautiful architecture and bustling atmosphere, are an excellent way to immerse yourself in Italian culture. With so many options, we’ve narrowed it down to the best piazzas in the heart of Rome’s metropolis.

Read more: Beautiful Places To Visit In Italy For The First Time

Best Piazza in Rome, Italy to Visit:

1. Piazza Navona 

📍Address: Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Piazza Navona 1-Hour Underground Audio Guide Tour
🌟 Ratings: 4 / 5

The first on the list is the famed Piazza Navona, which is located in the heart of Rome, in the Campus Martius neighborhood, about 300 meters from the Pantheon. This busy area has a wealth of history as well as gorgeous monuments and a reputation for being one of the best piazzas in Rome, so this is a must-see.

Piazza Navona is unquestionably one of Rome’s most popular piazzas. Piazza Navona has a fascinating history that extends back thousands of years, in addition to its particular charm and family-friendly ambience. Originally, the space beneath the plaza housed Domitian’s Ancient Roman Stadium.

They would organize athletic tournaments and, for a short time, gladiator bouts here! The plaza was not embellished with two magnificent artistic achievements until the Baroque era—”Fountain Bernini’s of the Four Rivers” and Borromini’s Church of St. Agnese in Agone.

The distinctive design of Piazza Navona is the product of what was previously a stadium for sports tournaments, seating 20,000 people. There is no better place to get a true sense of Rome than by visiting this remarkable piazza.

With so many delicious restaurants nearby, don’t miss out on a well-deserved pit stop at one of the local eateries when visiting Piazza Navona. The square is close to famous attractions like the Trevi Fountain and the majestic La Fontana Di Quattro Fiumi (also known as the Fountain of Four Rivers), so there’s enough to do if you arrange a trip around a visit to this piazza.

2. Piazza di Spagna 

📍Address: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Guided City Center Evening Sightseeing Walking Tour
🌟 Ratings: 4.7 / 5

The name Piazza di Spagna, or ‘The Plaza of Spain,’ derives from the Palace di Spagna, which has housed the Spanish Ambassador for the Vatican from the sixteenth century. You may combine a visit to this piazza with another tourist attraction because it is located at the bottom of the Spanish Steps.

The Spanish Steps are located in Piazza di Spagna, which is one of the most photographed places in Rome. This notably wide and curved staircase was designed by architect Francesco de Sanctis and built between 1723 and 1725 to connect the French Church of Trinità dei Monti above, to the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See.

Piazza di Spagna is another wonderful square in Rome, with magnificent fountains, Italian cuisine, and stunning architecture. The Fontana Della Barcaccia, located in the middle of Piazza di Spagna, is perhaps one of Rome’s most magnificent fountains. This gorgeous fountain, built in 1627, lends itself to fantastic sightseeing as well as historical and cultural exploration, adding to the list of reasons to visit here.

Throughout the sixteenth century, this stylish plaza was the principal gathering spot for artists and scholars. Thus, if you want to soak up all of the culture that Rome has to offer, make sure Piazza di Spagna is on your itinerary.

3. Piazza Venezia 

📍Address: Piazza Venezia, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Rome Guided Golf Cart 3-Hour Tour
🌟 Ratings: 4.9 / 5

Piazza Venezia is loaded with fascinating tales of ancient Romans who lived in the city when it was first settled. This piazza was formerly utilized as a papal residence. Subsequently, it was converted into the home of the embassy of the Republic of Venice, and then it was eventually converted into the headquarters for the Italian Government.

This wonderful destination for tourists in Rome is also called “Venice Square,” and it is situated at the intersection of four of the city’s most important roads. The Piazza Venezia is notorious for its frenetic activity, as there is a substantial volume of traffic constantly moving into and out of this region.

The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument is a well-known statue that can be found in Rome’s Piazza Venezia. This statue, also known as the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, has been the primary attraction for a great number of tourists who have come to the city. Even if you were only interested in seeing this breathtaking piece of architecture, it would be worthwhile to pay a visit to this piazza; after all, there are many other interesting things located in and around the square.

4. Piazza di Santa Maria 

📍Address: Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Tour Rome
🌟 Ratings: 4.5 / 5

Piazza Santa Maria is an area of Rome that should not be missed because it is home to one of the city’s oldest fountains. It is said that the fountain in this piazza dates back to the 8th century, which makes it an excellent location from which to view Rome’s history and architecture.

If you are interested in learning more about the religious history of Rome, you will be pleased to know that this piazza is also home to one of the oldest churches in the Trastevere neighborhood.

Travelers who are interested in getting a genuine taste of Italy and learning more about the myths and legends that originated in this area will find that the Piazza Santa Maria is an excellent place to visit. This picture-perfect little square can be found in the picture-perfect neighborhood of Trastevere, and it is surrounded on all sides by magnificent buildings.

5. Piazza della Rotonda 

📍Address: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Discover Pantheon: Guided Tour of the Glory of Rome
🌟 Ratings: 4.5 / 5

Piazza del Pantheon is a common name for this area of Rome’s public squares because it is situated directly in front of the Pantheon, making it one of the most well-known piazzas in the city.

This square, which can be found in the heart of Rome’s ancient district, is most famous for the Pantheon, which is widely considered to be among the most striking landmarks in the Eternal City. It had originally been a temple when it was constructed in 126 AD on the orders of Emperor Hadrian, but in 609 AD, it was converted into a Catholic church instead.

The Pantheon is one of the buildings in Rome that has been preserved the best, and it is a stunning sight both on the outside and on the inside. On the inside, you will be able to see the Dome with its Oculus, which is the only opening, as well as the tombs of some well-known Italians, including the artist Raphael and King Victor Emmanuel II.

Piazza della Rotonda, like many of Rome’s other public squares, is pavered, and it features a fountain in the middle as well as a number of pleasant cafés.

6. Piazza Fontana Di Trevi 

📍Address: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Trevi Fountain and Underground Guided Tour
🌟 Ratings: 4.7 / 5

This piazza is the most popular tourist destination in Rome because it is home to the world-famous Trevi Fountain; in fact, if you want to see it without a lot of other people, you’ll probably have to go in the middle of the night. It’s interesting to note that while the fountain, which has recently been brought back to its former splendor, is enormous, the actual square is relatively small.

The Trevi Fountain and Square have been used as the setting for a number of movies, the most well-known of which are La Dolce Vita, which was directed by the Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini, and Tototruffa 62, in which the well-known Italian actor Toto conned tourists and passersby by making them believe the fountain was his and agreeing to sell it to a prince. 

Visitors often toss coins into the fountain, which are then routinely collected, counted, and given to a charitable organization.

7. Piazza del Campidoglio 

📍Address: Piazza del Campidoglio, 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Capitoline Museums Experience with Multimedia Video
🌟 Ratings: 4.3 / 5

Piazza del Campidoglio, located just a short walk from Piazza Venezia and the Roman Forum, is an often overlooked jewel of Rome. You’ll be delighted by the amazing architectural accomplishment you’ll find after climbing the breathtaking staircase to reach this fantastic piazza. During the 16th century, Pope Paul III Farnese commissioned Michelangelo, the renowned Renaissance mastermind, to construct a boast worthy square on top of the significant and historic site known as Capitoline Hill- and he did!

The Piazza del Campidoglio, with its numerous religious shrines, provides insight into the city’s history and religion. It would be a shame not to visit this beautiful plaza and learn more about the personalities who have impacted the shrines here whilst in Rome.

This historical square was originally the Senate’s seat and the government’s headquarters in ancient Rome. You may spend hours admiring the gorgeous architecture and fountains on show as well as exploring the past.

This Piazza, located on the summit of Capitoline Hill, is one of the more modern squares in Rome when compared to the others on the list. While visiting Rome with the whole family, it may be a good idea to spend a day meandering among the many museums, acquiring a better understanding of the city’s history. The Capitoline Museums, located in Piazza del Campidoglio, are another excellent method to learn about Rome’s history.

8. Piazza del Popolo 

📍Address: Piazza del Popolo, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Piazzas and Fountains Sunset Tour with Aperitivo
🌟 Ratings: 5 / 5

The Piazza del Popolo, one of Rome’s largest squares, was designed by architect Valadier. It is positioned inside the northern entrance of the city center and was once known as the Porta Flaminia of ancient Rome. You’ll find numerous beautiful churches, three spectacular fountains, and the city gate into Rome here.

Piazza del Popolo means “People’s Plaza” in Italian. Visitors frequently go to this piazza to witness the spectacular and nearly similar Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto churches. The city gates here originate from 1561 and offer fantastic photo possibilities as well as a fuller understanding of how Rome has grown.

This lovely square has so much to offer and provides even more insight into Rome’s history and culture. At this piazza, you may also see the famed Flaminio Obelisk, one of Rome’s thirteen antique obelisks. A little further back, two perfect symmetry twin churches were built during the Baroque era by Carlo Rainaldi, Bernini, and Carlo Fontana. You’ll also notice three of Rome’s most prominent streets forming a “trident” on either side of the churches and in between.

If you have the opportunity to visit, it is highly suggested that you visit the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo (found immediately past the gate), which houses notable artworks by painters like as Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, and Donato Bramante. Piazza del Popolo also serves as one of the entrances of Villa Borghese—if you ascend the steps into the gardens, you’ll finally reach an excellent viewpoint point over the square, with views of St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance!

9. Piazza Barberini 

📍Address:  Piazza Barberini, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Rome: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour
🌟 Ratings: 4.2 / 5

This piazza was constructed by the Barberini family in 1625 and dates back to that year. The large square itself can be found on Quirinal Hill, one of Rome’s Seven Hills, which is situated in the middle of Rome’s city center. In the middle of it are two historic fountains: the Fontana del Tritone, which was constructed in 1642, and the Fontana delle Api, which was constructed in 1644. The sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini was responsible for the creation of both (1598-1680).

Despite the fact that it is now a pleasant square, this location has a bloody past. Before the 18th century, it was a place where unidentified human corpses were put on display there so that people could try to determine who they belonged to.

10. Piazza Colonna 

📍Address: Piazza Colonna, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Rome: 3-Hour Private Historical Highlights Walking Tour
🌟 Ratings: 5 / 5

The Piazza Colonna can be found in the heart of Rome’s historic district. This piazza has the shape of a rectangle, and it gets its name from a marble column that has been here since the year 193 AD. This is a Roman “victory column” that was constructed in honor of Marcus Aurelius, who was the Emperor during the time of its construction.

But the history of the square isn’t the only thing that makes it interesting. The official residence of the Prime Minister of Italy is the building that can be found on the northern side of the piazza. The Galleria Alberto Sordi is a shopping arcade that dates back to the 19th century and is located in another part of the square (one of the most famous Italian actors of the 29th century). In addition to that, an old papal post office used to be located right here.

11. Piazza della Repubblica

📍Address: Piazza della Repubblica, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
🎟️Find Tickets – Book in Advance: Fountains and Fallen Angels
🌟 Ratings: 5 / 5

The expansive Piazza della Repubblica, also referred to as Piazza Estrada, can be found on top of the Viminal Hill in Rome. It is widely regarded as one of the city’s most significant piazzas (near Termini Station). Due to the fact that it was constructed on the original site of the Roman Baths of Diocletian, it has the shape of a circle.

The buildings that surround its perimeter were designed to resemble the historic ones that occupied this location in the past and date back to 1887. There is a large roundabout in the middle of the piazza that has a decorative fountain as its centerpiece. The statues depicting naiads, also known as “water nymphs” in Roman mythology, are located around the fountain.

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