Campo dei fiori, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, historical Rome
This is the heart of historic Rome, where Renaissance and Baroque styles blend most harmoniously along the streets and in the squares. The district begins with Piazza Venezia, where the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli and the monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, nicknamed the "typewriter", stand. Further north, the Quirinale hill with the presidential palace separates the center from the east of the city. Towards the center, two Roman must-sees furnish the area: the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj with its exceptional Pinacoteca and the impressive mass of the Pantheon. Further west, two epicenters of Roman life: Piazza Navona with its sumptuous Baroque fountains, and Campo de' Fiori, famous for its market and nightlife. A few steps away is the Farnese Palace, seat of the French Embassy, with its harmonious Renaissance façade. Finally, further south, on the shore near Tiberina Island, is the Jewish Ghetto, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Rome. Stores, bars, restaurants, ice cream parlors abound here, to the point of being unable to count them.
Colosseum, Forum and Capitol, Ancient Rome
The Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine, as well as the prestigious sites around them, represent the heart of ancient Rome. To the northeast, the Roman Forum and the Imperial Forums(Fori Imperiali), as well as the Capitol, mark the limit of the area. In this section we also include the oldest neighborhood in Rome, Monti, located east of via dei Fori Imperiali. It owes its name (the mountains) to the presence in its territory of the Esquiline, Viminal, and parts of the Quirinal and Celio. There are numerous testimonies of the Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, in a succession of styles that cover 2,500 years of history. Via San Giovanni in Laterano, which leads to the Lateran, runs along the east side of the area. To the northwest, right next to the Colosseum, are the remains of the Domus Aurea, Nero's home. To the southwest of the Colosseum, there is the Palatine, next to the Roman Forum, and then the Circo Massimo and the Aventine hill, which marks the border with the Testaccio district. To the south, the Baths of Caracalla begin the entrance to the Via Appia Antica, which starts beyond the San Sebastiano gate. At the southern end of the area and near the Baths of Caracalla are the ancient Porta Ostiense and the Pyramid of Cestius. A neighborhood where ancient Rome is revealed in all its splendor.
Piazza di Spagna and Villa Borghese, the chic Rome
A rather posh neighborhood, although very touristy, it includes the romantic park of the Villa Borghese and its cluster of museums, a large green area from which you can enjoy a splendid view of the city. The pearl of the district is the Villa Medici, seat of the French Academy in Rome since the 17th century. To the south lies the famous Piazza di Spagna and its legendary stairways. The church of the Trinità dei Monti (Trinity of the Mounts) is the link between the two parts, from which there are several shopping streets where all the major fashion labels are located. Going north along the very chic via del Babuino, you will find Piazza del Popolo, Santa Maria del Popolo and Porta del Popolo. To the west of the neighborhood runs via Veneto, which begins at piazza Barberini and ends at Porta Pinciana and marks one of the entrances to the Villa Borghese; this is another of Rome's chic arteries, where the concentration of large luxury hotels and the cafés that accompany them is the highest.
Vatican and Trastevere, in the shadow of the Janiculum
The Vatican is the smallest state in the world, out of all proportion to its symbolic importance as the seat of the Roman Curia and the Papacy. Only 20 hectares in size, its limits were defined by the Lateran Agreement signed in 1929 between Mussolini and the Pope. Curiosity, Latin is still the official language of the Vatican, at least as far as legal texts are concerned. A miniature state, it issues stamps and has a printing press, a court of law, a power plant and even a train station, but above all some of the greatest artistic masterpieces in the world. Not far away stands the majestic Castel Sant'Angelo. Parallel to the Tiber, the Janiculum hill extends from the Vatican to Trastevere. The latter is a popular district still marked by a maze of alleys and small squares where tourists and locals rub shoulders at the counters of the cafes and the tables of the trattorie. Today it is the district of artists and expatriates, so don't be surprised to breathe a little bobo air here. There are many treasures to discover in Trastevere, from the Villa Farnesina to the beautiful gallery of paintings in Palazzo Corsini.
Termini, Celio and Esquiline, the alternative Rome
Long disliked, the Termini station area has much to offer. First of all, just south of it, the axis connecting San Giovanni in Laterano to Santa Maria Maggiore is home to most of the city's early Christian churches, starting with San Giovanni in Laterano itself, San Clemente and Santa Prassede. Then there are the Baths of Diocletian, the largest in antiquity, not to be missed by lovers of the genre, as well as the Palazzo Massimo and its collection of Roman antiquities. Let's also talk about the San Lorenzo and Pigneto neighborhoods, adjacent to the Termini train station. Located to the east of the train tracks, these are small, young and trendy enclaves that have revitalized a once popular and proletarian environment. Neighborhoods dear to Pier Paolo Pasolini, the Pigneto and San Lorenzo have ended up attracting a bobo public with all the trendy addresses that go with it. Exploring them can reveal some nice surprises, especially gastronomic ones.
Outside the walls, neighbourhoods to explore
The term corresponds to a secular reality of Rome. The wall of Aurelian (270-275), enlarged under Maxentius (306-312), then Honorius (395-423), encompassed, until recently, almost the entire Roman population. There are few tourist sites in these districts. However, you will find the real Roman life, the one of today.
Northern neighborhoods: A stone's throw from the Vatican, Prati is a chic residential neighborhood with a rather wealthy population. You can stroll through it to soak up its rich atmosphere. On the other side of the Tiber, in the Flaminio district, you will discover the Auditorium designed by Renzo Piano and the MAXXI by Zaha Hadid. From Flaminio, crossing the Tiber north again, you will reach the young and trendy Ponte Milvio district. To the east of Flaminio lies the large residential area of Nomentano.
Southern neighborhoods: South of the historic center is another typical and interesting neighborhood: Testaccio. Opposite the Trastevere district, on the other side of the Tiber, it owes its name to a hill made of amphora shards. Today, several cool bars and restaurants are established on the hill. This neighborhood has become one of the highlights of the Roman nightlife where its famous trattorie serve traditional cuisine. Not to be missed here is a visit to the former Montemartini power plant and the Mattatoio, two interesting examples of industrial archaeology. Further south, the Garbatella neighborhood is living a second life, brought back to life thanks to the films of filmmaker Nanni Moretti.
