Rome Orientation

Rome’s size and myriad of narrow, winding streets can make it difficult to navigate, so it’s helpful to orient yourself by using major landmarks and main streets. The Tiber River, which snakes north-south through the city, is also a useful reference point. Most trains arrive at Stazione Termini east of Rome’s historical center. The neighborhood surrounding Termini and San Lorenzo to the east is home to the city’s largest university and most budget accommodations. Via Nazionale originates two blocks northwest of Termini Station in Piazza della Repubblica and leads to Piazza Venezia, the city’s focal point, recognizable by the immense white Vittorio Emanuele II monument. From P. Venezia, Via dei Fori Imperiali runs southeast to the Ancient City, where you can find the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Via del Corso stretches north from P. Venezia to Piazza del Popolo, which has an obelisk in its center that is visible all the way from P. Venezia. The Trevi Fountain, Piazza Barberini, and the fashionable streets around Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps lie to the east of V. del Corso. Villa Borghese, home to impressive gardens and museums, is northeast of the Spanish Steps. West of V. del Corso is the centro storico (historical town center), the tangle of streets around the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, and the old Jewish Ghetto. Largo Argentina, west of P. Venezia, marks the start of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, which runs through the centro storico to the Tiber River. Across the river to the northwest is Vatican City and the Borgo-Prati neighborhood. South of the Vatican are Trastevere and residential Testaccio. Be sure to pick up a free color map in English at the tourist office ( Practical Information, see opposite page).