10. PIAZZA SANTA MARIA IN TRASTEVERE

Santa Maria in Trastevere is the emblem of a citizen's square. Here you can come to have a chat, to drink a beer with your friends and spend a summer evening. The square houses as well the beautiful Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere with its Medieval mosaics and frescoes, while in the center of the square, there is one of the oldest fountains in Rome. It has has been restored several times and it is supplied by Acqua Paola. Legend goes that it quenched Trastevere inhabitants' thirst before the arrival of the town's water supply.

Want to know more about Trastevere neigbourhood? Read our in-depth article!

9. SQUARE OF THE MOUTH OF TRUTH

The very beautiful Square of the Mouth of Truth, located right in front of Tiber Island, is named after a famous old Roman manhole cover known as Mouth of Truth and placed today inside the portico of the Church of St. Mary in Cosmedin. In the square opposite to the church you can discover very closely the beautiful Temple of Hercules and the Fountain of the Tritons, commissioned by Pope Clement XI, with two tritons that hold a shell.

8. PIAZZA CAMPO DE' FIORI

Campo de' Fiori hosts since 1869 what is considered by many Rome's most beautiful and characteristic fruit and vegetable market. Every morning, except on Sunday, the square is heaving with colourful stalls selling fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fresh fish, food specialities and much more.

Heterogeneous, noisy and cosmopolitan, Campo dei Fiori by night welcomes tourists, young people and students who meet here, specially on the weekends, to have a drink in company in one of the many cocktail bars and pubs. The area is in addition heaving with restaurants, outdoor caffès, cinemas and theaters.

In the past, the square was also used for executions and the big bronze statue of philosopher Giordano Bruno reminds us that he was sentenced to death accused of heresy and he was burnt alive here on 17th February 1600. If you want to find out more about the history of Campo de' Fiori read our in-depth article.

7. PIAZZA OF TREVI FOUNTAIN

The small Trevi square, housing the famous fountain is beyond doubt one of the most popular spots for tourists from all over the world, coming here to take a picture as a souvenir or to toss a coin, as established by tradition . Well-known thanks to Federico Fellini's Dolce Vita, the fountain is an architectural, cultural and engineering masterpiece.

Do you want to find out more about the history of the fountain and its secrets? Do you want to know why people throw coins into the fountain? Read this article for a follow-up.

6. PIAZZA DEL POPOLO

This famous square, throbbing heart of the city, is named after the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, rich with funeral monuments and works of art, like two famous paintings by Caravaggio: Conversion of Paul the Apostle and Crucifixion of St. Peter.

The square presents an elegant elliptical form, currently with a neoclassical arrangement, designed by architect Giuseppe Valadier. In the center, over a big base with fountains and lions, stands one of the biggest obelisks of Rome, the Flaminian Obelisk (23.91 meters without the base), comissioned by pharaon Ramesses II.

From Piazza del Popolo start three important streets that form the so-called Trident: on the left, Via del Babuino leading to Piazza di Spagna, on the right Via di Ripetta leading to Piazza Navona and to the Pantheon, while at the center, Rome's main street, Via del Corso, with its shops is a favourite place for shopping lovers. Find out more reading about Piazza del Popolo.

5. PIAZZA DELLA ROTONDA

This suggestive square houses one of the most beautiful and important monuments of Rome: the Pantheon.

Just visit it!

In the center there is the splendid Renaissance fountain, designed in 1575 by Giacomo della Porta and sourmounted by Ramesses II obelisk. Everything surrounding the square is heaving with restaurants, pubs and bars where you can have an aperitivo with your friends. It's the perfect place to spend your evening.

4. PIAZZA VENEZIA

Piazza Venezia is considered the hub of city traffic and it ideally links Via dei Fori Imperiali with Via del Corso. On the southern side of the square stands the imposing building Vittoriano, the National Monumento to Victor Emmanuel II, designed by Giuseppe Sacconi housing the remains of the Unknown Soldier and so called the Altar of the Fatherland.

On the western side, on the other hand, is the Renaissance façade of Palazzo Venezia, after which the square is named. During a brief period, it was a Papal building and then, from 1564 to 1797 it was seat for the delegation of the Most Serene Republic in the Papal States. Over the Fascism years, from 1929, it became official seat for the Head of Government and Benito Mussolini used to look out the balcony to give his speeches.

To find out more about the history of Piazza Venezia and Il Vittoriano read this article.

3. PIAZZA DI SPAGNA

Placed at the feet of the scenographic steps of Trinità dei Monti, one of Rome's most famous images worldwide, beautiful Piazza di Spagna is in the third place of our ranking. The square is named after the Spanish Embasssy to the Holy See.

In the center of the square is placed the Barcaccia (Ugly Boat) by Pietro and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, built to remember the overflowing of the Tiber River in 1598.

Among history, art and important shopping streets, Piazza di Spagna is to this day a popular destination for tourists from all over the world, as well as for Romans. It is an unmissable stop for any true visit to Rome. If you want to know what to do and what to see in Piazza di Spagna read this article.

2. PIAZZA NAVONA

Ranking second in our podium is elegant Piazza Navona. With the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini, the majestic Palazzo Pamphilj and the splendid Chuch of San'Agnese in Agone, the square represents the true quintessence of Roman Barroque.

Great meeting place, the square is always heaving with street artists, painters, tourists but also the Romans themselves. Visiting Rome's city center, you can't avoid crossing this square! If the saying is true and all roads lead to Rome, then it's also true that all streets in Rome lead to Piazza Navona! There are, in fact, many entries to the Piazza and it is not coincidence, given the importance of the square over the history of the city.

You have an unmissable appointment during Christmas time, specially the night of the befana, (an old woman who delivers gifts to children on the night of January 5th), when the square is illuminated with thousands of colours, and it is filled up with stalls selling sweets, artisan objects and Nativity figurines.

1. PIAZZA SAN PIETRO

And here it is, finally, the first place of our top 10. This extraordinary square has reached the highest step on the podium.

All the words in the world will not suffice to describe the extraordinary excitement that one feels crossing St. Peter's Square. Actually, we are technically in the Vatican State, but never mind... to admire this masterpiece designed by Bernini you must come to Rome. Also, St. Peter's Square is really universal! With its wide colonnade, it embraces and unites all faithful in the world.

Many faithful gather every Sunday at noon to attend the Angelus Domini and receive the Pope's benediction, who adresses the square from his study window. Being a Catholic or not, it doesn't matter: visiting St. Peter's Square is an experience that you will never forget.

Discover the history, the secrets and many other curiosities about St. Peter's Square.