The area surrounding Piazza del Popolo, the ancient Campo Marzio, is today the paradise of shopping, thanks to the high concentration of shops and boutiques.

The spectacular square 5 today a pedestrian precinct, and it has been brought back to its ancient splendor. The difference in level between the square and the overlooking hill of the Pincio was a problem overcome thanks to winding ramps, from which terrace it is possible to admire a wonderful panorama on the city. The so-called Trident starts from the square as there are three sunburst streets penetrating into the center of the city: via del Babuino, via del Corso, via di Ripetta. 

In Via del Babuino there are famous antique shops specialized in pieces of furmiture and paintings, prints and ancient jewelry. ParalleI to it is the vivacious via  Margutta, the street of the painters, a seat of romantic artist studios.

 Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina used to uve here. Via del Corso, the main street, was called by Stendhal as "the most beautiful in the world.

lt is narrow and long, and it houses several casual clothes shops, which distinguish it from the "exclusive" style of the adjoining streets. Just think of the par excellence street of fashion, with its boutiques of the most important brands, that is, via Condotti -where you may have an "intellectual" stop at the historic Greek Café - or of via Borgognona . The background of Piazza di Spagna, the most famous in the world, houses every summer the fashion show called "Rome under the stars".  Once you have crossed via Frattina, another important shopping pIace, you get to piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina, recently adjusted with benches and gazeboes, where you may find excellent bars and confectioner's.

Piazza del Popolo, one of the most spectacular Roman squares.  
On the right side, close to the walls, is the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. Standing over the square are the two twin churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto  and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. On the left side is via del Babuino, along which are numerous antique shops. ParalleI to this street is the renowned via Margutta that, mostly in the past, was one of the most important centers of the Roman cultural life, thanks to the several artist studios. Via del Babuino gets to Piazza di Spagna. 
On the square, and in its vicinity, are still to be seen historic cafés such as Babington and, at the beginning of Via Condotti, the Greek Café. 
At the center of the square is the Barcaccia dominated by the spectacular Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti. The next stop is via Veneto, a renowned street of modem Rome,  a privileged setting forthe “Dolce vita”, the unforgettable film by Federico Fellini. You go down towards Piazza Barberini. At the center is the renowned Fountain of the Triton.
Announced by the roaring of the jets of water, Fountain of Trevi stands out sud­denly, matching the simple and elegant fa­cade, with the arch of triumph in the middle. Here the water runs and creates a myriad of glares.

From the fifteenth-century Ponte Sisto, erected to connect Trastevere to the center of the city, you get to Piazza Farnese.
From here you getto Via Giulia, a straight road parallel to the river. On the way are renowned palaces, (Sacchetti and Falconieri) and important churches (San Giovanni dei Fiorentini, Santa Maria of the Oration and Death). You get then to piazza di Campo de’ Fiori that, with its open market, stilI pre­serves a lively and popular atmosphere while, at night, it becomes a meeting place for renowned restaurants and nightclubs. The Palazzo della Cancelleria, which names the homonymous square, was for several centuries site of the Apostle Chancellery, the Pope’s Offices. Beyond the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you get to Piazza Navona.  

At the center of the square is the Fountain of the Rivers that faces the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone. 
From the square you get to via del Governo Vecchio. The road was crossed by Dante during the Jubilee in 1300.The road brings to the Tiber embarkment, in the vicinity of Ponte Sant’Angelo. 

On the opposite side is Castel Sant’Angelo. In the Middle Ages, it was changed into a fortress.  By crossing via della Conciliazione you get to the Basilica of St. Peter.

The Quirinal, the highest of the seven HiIIs, has always been the symbol of the institutions. Since 1947, it has been seat of the President of the Republic. Below the QuirinaI, on Piazza Colonna is Palazzo Chigi.


Since the Sixties, it has been seat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Next to it is Palazzo di Montecitorio. In 1871, it became seat of the Chamber of Deputies.

Palazzo Madama was named after Margaret of Austria, widow of Alessandro de' Medici.

 Since 1871, it has been seat of the Senate. Since ancient times, the Campidoglio  has always been seat of Authorities,institutions, and of the Roman Public Record Office, the so-called Tabularium. 
 

Piazza Venezia A road junction with a centuries-old history. The most ancient building is the Palace of Venice (XV century)ì, which is seat of the embassy of the Venetian Republic.
The monument to Victor Emmanuel stands out clear to celebrate the unity of Italy; here is the sepulchre of the Unknown Soldier. Having the square behind, the contrast with Via dei Fori Imperiali is powerful. It is the archeologicai heart of the city. On the left side of the street is the most renowned column in the world, and Trajan’s Market. On the right are the majestic remains of the Roman Forum: the senate Curia, the Via Sacra, the Arch of Septimius Severus.
Not to be missed is the Mamertino Prison where, according to tradition, the apostles Peter and Paul were kept as prisoners.The Colosseum rises majestically. 
The Flavian amphitheater il century A. Di, eter­nal symbol of Rome. Next to it is the imposing Arch of Constantine (IV century) On the Campidoglio, it is possible to ad-mire the Re­naissance square de-signed by Michelangelo.  From here, you can look at a suggestive panorama, particularly on the hill of the imperial power par excellence, that is, the Palatine.
From the Campidoglio, the notorious Tarpeian Rock, where the geese used to watch over the Romans’ sleep, slopes down towards Santa Maria della Consolazione; by walking along the Forum, you get to via di San Teodoro, with the church of the same name. In ancient times, this used to be the Horrea area, the public granary. The street gets in front of the Circus Maximus, of imperial age It has been a sugges­tive... set forfamous films (such as Ben Hur). Going towards the river, there is Santa Maria in Cosmedin  with the Bocca della Verità that — don’t be afraid — doesn’t reveal anything. It is just a classical-age manhole cover. On the opposite side there are two temples: the one is entitled to the Virile Fortune, whereas the other one is entitled to Hercules (the latter is wrong Iy called “TempIe of Vesta). In front of San Giorgio al Velabro is the Arch of Janus an access to the Forum Boarium (Cattle Fair), an ancient cattle market.
 

Halfway between the Spanish Embassy and Trinità dei Monti (French) is the piazza di Spagna.
 A little farther, in front of the scalinata di Trinità dei Monti, is the renowned Barcaccia, similar to a half-submerged boat. 

By crossing the via del Tritone you suddenly get to the baroque triumph of the Fountain of Trevi.

According to tradition, if you throw a coin in it you are sure you will return to Rome again. Crossing via del Corso towards Piazza del Popolo, is the Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina. 

 

At the end of the via del Corso 

is the spectacular Piazza del Popolo

Piazza Campo di Fiori, is the popu­lar center of the city, also thanks to the Iively market usually held here. 

Surrounded by nightclubs and pubs, it is the most frequented by the Roman young people. Next to it is the piazza Farnese, which houses the biggest private palace of the city.


 
Going back to Campo de’ Fiori, to you get to Piazza Navona,  he most baroque of the Roman squares. 
At the center is the Fountain of the Rivers.On the opposite side is the church of Sant’Agnese. Next to it is the majestic Palazzo Pamphilj. By crossing the Corso Rinascimento you get to  Piazza della Rotonda, where is the best-preserved monument of the antiquity, that is, the Pantheon. 

From Caesar on, all emperors Ieft a sign of their empire in the so-called Imperial Forums,
 which name the modem straight-forward way -  opened by Mussolini -  that connects piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. 
Thanks to its central position, the Palatine Hill, standing over the area of the Roman Forum, was the most suitable place for the first urban settlement. 

Here the tradition places Romulus' first hut where, later an, Augustus would made his magnificent palace. 

The Colosseum was erected an the area of the stagnum Neronis, and it was the most important amphitheater in the Roman world.
Next to it is the Arch of Constantine, the biggest and best preserved ancient arch

Santa Maria Maggiore, on the Esquiline, was founded by pope Liberius on the piace of a miraculous snowfall (August of 356).


 
San Giovanni in Laterano, cathedral of Rome, rises in the area of the imperial palace that was given by Constantine to pope Miltiades. San Pietro rises on the Ager Vaticanus, where originally was Nero's Circus. 

Here the apostle Peter was martyred, and his tomb made this place become the core of Christianity.


 
On the via Ostiense is San Paolo fuori le mura, built on Saint Pual's relics, and totally rebuilt after the fire of 1823.