Rome – Centro Storico

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Centro Storico is the area of the center of Rome located east of the Tiber river and northwest of the ancient ruins of Campitelli and Celio. Centro Storico includes the rioni Parione, Pigna, Ponte, Regola, Sant’Angelo, and Sant’Eustachio, and features several churches and museums filled with great works of art, but also ancient landmarks such as the Pantheon.

✪ Pantheon

The Pantheon is a Roman temple dating from the early 2nd century, which was turned into a church in the year 609. Used continuously since its construction, it is one of best preserved Roman structures, and features what is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. The building has a large portico with tall Corinthian columns on its facade, while the interior has a round plan. Inside, it hosts various artworks and the tombs of some notable figures, such as Renaissance artist Raphael and the first two modern Kings of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, as well as Umberto’s wife Margherita. A notable feature of the Pantheon is the central opening at the top of dome, which serves as a source of natural light. The square in front of the temple features one of the ancient Egyptian obelisks of Rome.

✪ Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio

The Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio is a Baroque church erected during the 17th century in the center of Rome. The church features a decorated facade, and is known for hosting a large series of intricate trompe-l’œil frescoes by Andrea Pozzo, regarded as one of the best works of its kind. The church also hosts various other artworks and funerary monuments.

✪ Doria Pamphilj Gallery

The Doria Pamphilj Gallery (Galleria Doria Pamphilj) is a rich collection of artworks hosted inside Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome. The museum houses several artworks mostly dating between the 15th and 18th century, including works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Guercino, Velázquez, Correggio, Tintoretto, Titian, Bernini, and many others. The palace also features various richly decorated halls.

✪ Church of San Luigi dei Francesi

The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi is a 16th-century church located between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona in Rome. This is the church of the French community of the city and it is known for hosting a large amount of artworks, including three paintings by Caravaggio inside the Contarelli Chapel (Cappella Contarelli). The church also features a series of 17th-century frescoes by Domenichino and an elaborate Baroque facade.

✪ Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a large square in Rome, built on the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian (Stadio di Domiziano). Later it was turned into a marketplace and adorned with Baroque buildings and monuments, including three large fountains. At the center of the square is the elaborate Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) designed by Bernini in the 17th century and topped by an ancient Egyptian obelisk. The other two fountains are the Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) and the Fountain of the Moor (Fontana del Moro), and both date from the 16th century. Among the Baroque buildings facing the square, the most notable is Palazzo Pamphilj, which features richly frescoed halls and now serves as the embassy of Brazil. The complex of Palazzo Pamphilj includes the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, which features several Baroque decorations and a large series of 17th-century frescoes.

✪ Palazzo Altemps

Palazzo Altemps is a historic palace built in the 16th century and one of the four sections of the National Roman Museum. The museum houses a large collection of ancient sculptures, including several Roman, Hellenistic, and Egyptian masterpieces. The palace also features some richly frescoed halls.

✪ Church of the Gesù

The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Jesuit order, erected in the 16th century. The church features what is considered the first Baroque facade, and a large amount of artworks. Inside the church are various richly adorned chapels and a huge cycle of elaborate frescoes. A chapel with an intricate altar is dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, and hosts his tomb.

✪ Theater of Marcellus

The Theater of Marcellus (Teatro di Marcello) is an ancient Roman theater erected in the 1st century BCE, and later turned into a fortified palace between the Middle Ages and the 16th century. The building is known for the peculiar sight of a modern palace erected on top of an ancient structure. The theater sits at the center of an archaeological area that includes the ruins of a few ancient temples.

Palazzo Venezia

Palazzo Venezia is a Renaissance palace erected in the 15th century next to Piazza Venezia. Originally a papal residence, it was later used as an embassy of the Republic of Venice and then Austria, becoming the headquarters of Mussolini during the fascist period. Now it houses the National Museum of Palazzo Venezia (Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia), a collection of historic paintings, sculptures, porcelain, medals, weapons, and other objects and artworks dating from the Renaissance onwards. The palace also houses the National Library of Archaeology and Art History (Biblioteca Nazionale di Archeologia e Storia dell’Arte), which includes hundreds of thousands of historic books and documents.

Basilica of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio

The Basilica of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio is a church adjacent to Palazzo Venezia. Founded in the 4th century and reworked several times, it features various artworks, most notably a series of Byzantine mosaics located in the apse and dating from the 9th century. Next to the church is the ancient Roman statue of Madama Lucrezia, one of the “talking statues” of Rome, on which satires and criticisms of political figures were posted anonymously since the 16th century.

Crypta Balbi

Crypta Balbi is one of the branches of the National Roman Museum, located on top of the ruins of ancient Roman and medieval building. The museum houses a collection of archaeological finds.

Largo di Torre Argentina

Largo di Torre Argentina is an archaeological area in Rome featuring the ruins of four ancient temples erected during the age of the Roman Republic. Here are also the ruins of some other buildings, including the Curia of Pompey (Curia di Pompeo), where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE. Largo di Torre Argentina is also famous for hosting a cat sanctuary. Among the historic buildings facing the square are the 18th-century Teatro Argentina, one of the main theaters of Rome, and the medieval tower Torre del Papito.

Pie’ di Marmo

The Pie’ di Marmo (“Marble Foot”) is a large sculpture of a foot that was once part of a statue dedicated to Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis. The sculpture was placed in its current position in 1878, to make space for the funeral procession of Victor Emmanuel II to the Pantheon.

Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva

The Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva is an ancient church built on the site of an ancient Roman temple near the Pantheon. Mostly erected in Gothic style during the Late Middle Ages, it was later reworked with Renaissance and Baroque elements. The church features several artworks, including a sculpture by Michelangelo and the large series of 15th-century frescoes by Filippino Lippi inside the Carafa Chapel (Cappella Carafa). The basilica also houses some tombs and funerary monuments, including those of Saint Catherine of Siena, Fra Angelico, and various popes. The square in front of the church features an ancient Egyptian obelisk placed on top of a 17th-century sculpture of an elephant designed by Bernini.

Church of Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza

The Church of Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza is a 17th-century Baroque chruch designed by Borromini and located between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. The church, considered one of the greatest works by Borromini, is placed at the end of a courtyard and features a concave facade and a unique floor plan that combines different geometrical shapes. Another notable feature of the church is the peculiar corkscrew lantern at the top of the dome.

Palazzo Madama

Palazzo Madama is a Renaissance palace in Rome that hosts the Senate of the Italian Republic, the upper house of the Italian Parliament. The building features various richly decorated halls and numerous artworks.

Basilica of Sant’Agostino in Campo Marzio

The Basilica of Sant’Agostino in Campo Marzio is a Renaissance church erected during the 15th century in Rome. The church is richly decorated, and houses several artworks. Among these are the Madonna di Loreto by Caravaggio, the fresco of The Prophet Isaiah (Il Profeta Isaia) by Raphael, and the 16th-century sculpture of the Madonna del Parto by Sansovino.

Napoleonic Museum of Rome

The Napoleonic Museum of Rome (Museo Napoleonico di Roma) is a museum dedicated to Napoleon and his family. The collection includes various artworks and memorabilia spanning the period between the rise of Napoleon and the fall of the Second French Empire.

Via dei Coronari

Via dei Coronari is a narrow street running east to west in the historic center of Rome. The road is famous for the many Renaissance buildings located along it, and it is regarded as one of the most picturesque streets in Rome.

Church of Santa Maria della Pace

The Church of Santa Maria della Pace is a Renaissance and Baroque church located near Piazza Navona. Originally built in the 15th century, it was reworked in the 17th century by Pietro da Cortona, with the addition of a Baroque facade. The church houses several artworks, including a fresco by Raphael. Adjacent to the church is the Bramante Cloister (Chiostro del Bramante), built in Renaissance style in the early 16th century and designed by Bramante.

Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle

The Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle is a historic church in Rome, erected between the 16th and 17th century. The church features an elaborate Baroque facade, and it is known for its large dome designed by Carlo Maderno. The basilica houses several artworks and decorated chapels, and a series of intricate frescoes. The church is also famous for being one of the sets of the opera Tosca by Puccini.

Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi

The Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi (Museo di Roma a Palazzo Braschi) is a museum hosted in a Neoclassical palace next to Piazza Navona. The museum houses a rich collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks spanning several centuries, with exhibitions dedicated to the history of Rome. Another section of the museum is located in Trastevere.

Pasquino

Pasquino is the most popular of the “talking statues” of Rome. This Hellenistic-style statue dates from the 3rd century BCE and, in the 16th century, it became a custom to attach sheets of paper with satires and criticisms of public figures anonymously to the sculpture. This custom was then expanded to other statues around the city.

Barracco Museum of Antique Sculpture

The Barracco Museum of Antique Sculpture (Museo Barracco di Scultura Antica) is a museum of ancient sculptures hosting a rich collection of works of Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Phoenician, and Greek art. The museum also includes Greek and Italic ceramics, and some artworks from the Roman period and the Middle Ages.

Palazzo della Cancelleria

Palazzo della Cancelleria is a Renaissance palace in the center of Rome and an extraterritorial property of the Holy See. The building was erected between the 15th and 16th century, partly reusing some ancient columns in the courtyard. The palace features numerous artworks and various richly frescoed halls, including the reception room painted by Vasari. The building also hosts an exhibition dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci and includes the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso, which features several artworks.

Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella

Also known as: Chiesa Nuova

The Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella is a Baroque church in Rome, built starting in the 16th century over an older religious site. The church is adorned with numerous Baroque decorations and houses a series of frescoes by Pietro da Cortona and three paintings by Rubens, among several other artworks. Adjacent to the church is the Oratorio dei Filippini, a 17th-century building designed by Borromini and featuring a clock tower.

Basilica of San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini

The Basilica of San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini is a Baroque church erected starting in the 16th century near the Tiber river, at the start of Via Giulia in Rome. The church features an elaborate facade adorned with various sculptures, while the interiors house the tombs of various notable figures, such as architect Borromini.

Via Giulia

Via Giulia is a long road that runs almost parallel to the Tiber river in the center of Rome, known for featuring several historic buildings and landmarks. Among these are various churches such as the Church of Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte and the Church of Sant’Eligio degli Orefici.

Campo de’ Fiori

Campo de’ Fiori is one of the most popular squares in Rome, known as a marketplace and a center of the local nightlife. The square is also famous for being the place where philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in 1600. Campo de’ Fiori now features a statue of Giordano Bruno erected in 1889.

Palazzo Farnese

Palazzo Farnese is a Renaissance building erected in the 16th century in Rome, now serving as the embassy of France. The palace was partly designed by Michelangelo and hosts a large series of elaborate frescoes by Annibale Carracci, regarded as one of the greatest works of early Baroque art.

Palazzo Spada

Palazzo Spada is a historic palace in Rome, erected in the 16th century and known for the perspective optical illusion of the arcaded courtyard designed by Borromini, that appears much longer than it actually is. The palace houses the Galleria Spada, a rich collection of paintings from the 16th and 17th century with works by several of the greatest artists of that time.

Ghetto of Rome

The Jewish Ghetto of Rome was established in 1555 in the rione Sant’Angelo of the center of Rome. The main attraction of the neighborhood is the Great Synagogue of Rome (Tempio Maggiore di Roma) built in eclectic style and inaugurated in 1904. The synagogue features several decorations and hosts the Jewish Museum of Rome (Museo Ebraico di Roma), a rich museum dedicated to the long history of the Jewish community in the city, one of the oldest outside the Middle East.

Porticus Octaviae

The Porticus Octaviae (Portico di Ottavia) is an ancient Roman portico orginally built during the age of Augustus over an older structure, and reworked in the 3rd century. The porch once completely surrounded two ancient temples, while now the area is occupied by the 8th-century Church of Sant’Angelo in Pescheria.

Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere

The Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere is a medieval church located next to the Theater of Marcellus. While the church houses some artworks, it is best known for the ruins of some ancient temples located around it, with some of the remains that have been incorporated in the structure of the basilica.