Rome Piazza Di Spagna

Piazza del Popolo, At the end of V. del Corso From the center of P. del Popolo, you can see the magnificent Vittorio Emanuele II Monument glowing (yes, it's so white, it glows) in the distance. Likewise, from the monument, a straight shot up V. del Corso has you gazing at this gigantic piazza, the “people's square,” no £ Communist connotation intended. Despite the Corso's noise and crowds, this street is probably the best way to arrive at and appreciate the openness of the piazza which, for being so famous, is surprisingly uncongested. Perhaps it merely appears so thanks to its size and an oblong shape which makes its edges feel wider. At the center, the Obelisk of Pharaoh Ramses II stands triumphantly, attracting a few tourists to sit at its base. The Santa Maria del Popolo church is worth a visit, as it contains two Caravaggio masterpieces in the Capella Cerasi: The Conversion of St. P A: Flaminio. Church is free. Church open M-Sa 7am-noon and 4-7pm, Su 8am-1:30pm and 4:30-7:30pm. Wheelchair access.
Museo dell'Ara Pacis, At intersection of Lungotevere in Augusta and P. Porto di Ripetta (☎06 06 08; www.arapacis.it), This truly serene museum is a fitting space for its central monument, the Ara Pacis. The bare white walls and huge windows of the space reflect the peace of the monument, a frieze-covered enclosure constructed in 13 BCE to commemorate Augustus's victories throughout Spain and Gaul. Visitors can walk inside the structure to get a closer look at the 40m string of acanthus plant carved in the marble to represent renewal and unity under Augustus's Golden Age. On the outside, a mostly intact frieze of the ruler and his family reflects the tranquility of the period—the figures seem at ease, carved with an eye towards realism. Ironically, Augustus's body is chipped off in the procession and only his head remains. In the front of the museum, a row of busts including the head of Ottavia lie across from a reconstructed family tree. Check out the small model and accompanying map which shows the monument's original location in the context of Rome's current street layout. The area, now A: Spagna. Take V. del Carrozze towards V. del Corso and proceed into P. Augusto Imperiale. Audio tour available in English €3.50. €6.50, EU citizens age 18-25 €4.50, EU citizens under 18 and over 65 free. Open Tu-Su 9am-7pm. Last entry 1hr. before close. Wheelchair access.
TREVI FOUNTAIN, Right beyond P. dell'Accademia di San Luca The best time to see the fountain is at 4:30am, because it's probably the only hour where you'll be able to sit on one of the stone ledges without hearing the sounds of vendors selling overpriced trinkets and tourists snapping picture-perfect shots in the background. That's certainly the hour that Anita Ekberg, actress of Fellini's La Dolce Vita,came by when she took a dip in the fountain's gushing waters. (While you can make a late-night visit, don't follow her lead or you risk a steep fine.) Even if you don't make it during this empty hour, Nicolo Salvi's mix of masterfully cut rock and stone in the raw is phenomenal. Neptune, surrounded by the goddesses of abundance and good health as well as two brawny horsemen, is carved with exacting detail, while the environment in which he sits is realistic merely because it has been left untouched. As good as gelato may be, save your coins for the fountain: one will ensure a prompt return to Rome, two will bring you love in th A: Barberini. Proceed down V. del Tritone and turn left onto V. Stamperia. Wheelchair access.
Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps, P. di Spagna In every sense, the P. di Spagna is a conglomeration of international roots—not only does it draw a global tourist crowd to its sandy-colored steps, but its history encompasses the Italians (who designed it), the British (who occupied it), the French (who financed it), and, oh yeah, the Spaniards (you've got this one). Built in 1723 as a way to connect the Piazza with the new Trinita dei Monti church above it, the magnificent steps now seem to be more of a hangout spot for tired shoppers, gelato eaters, and youth looking to avoid the expensive bar scene of this commercial neighborhood. The best view of the steps and Piazza is actually from the church's steps directly above—from there, you can get a better sense of their size while avoiding the cluster of people below. When you do make your way down, check out the Fontana della Barcaccia, built by Bernini the Elder before the steps were even constructed. The absurdly pink house and its two palm trees might remi A: Spagna. No wheelchair access.
Trinita dei Monti, At the top of the Spanish Steps, at the intersection of V. Sistina and P. Trinita dei Monti If you don't want to climb the steps just for the view, then this small church can give you an incentive. Built in 1502 and pillaged dozens of times, poor Trinita dei Monti has lost all of its original pieces but the transept above the highest altar. Check out the hand-drawn floor plan at the entrance to seek out some of the more famed frescoes gracing the chapels. Daniele da Volterra's Descent from the Cross was especially lauded by Poussin, and justly so—despite having undergone several restorations, it still brings a lot of color to the building's otherwise bleak walls. A: Spagna. Walk up the steps. Free. Open daily 7am-noon and 4-7pm. No wheelchair access.