Whether it is the clement weather that is so conducive to outdoor relaxation, or the natural propensity of Romans to congregate and gossip, the fact is the piazzas of the city, especially now that many have been closed to traffic, have retained their traditional function as the favorite haunts and meeting points of locals. There could be no better place to stop for a coffee and a chat than one of the beautiful piazzas of the city, of which there are so many that even a brief stroll will bring the visitor to several, each lovelier than the other.
Here we suggest a pleasant two-hour walking tour that begins in the piazza that epitomizes Rome: Piazza del Campidoglio. Designed by Michelangelo Buonarotti, the piazza is surrounded by the 16th-century Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Senatorio, respectively the city museum and seat of the city council. In the center of the piazza is a copy of the equestrian statue of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (the original can be viewed in the museum).
A walk through the districts of Campitelli and Regola leads to Piazza Farnese. Graced by twin fountains made from Roman-period basins, the piazza is dominated by the magnificent Renaissance palazzo built for Alessandro Farnese, who was to become Paul III in 1517. The palace now serves as the embassy of France. For the entire 16th century, several architects worked in the Palazzo Farnese, among them Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane and Michelangelo. Although it is very difficult to obtain a pass to visit the interior of the building, it is certainly worth the effort, for it contains many marvelous works, notably Annibale Caracci's frescoes.
Each morning, the adjoining Campo de' Fiori is decked out with fruit and vegetable stalls. A few minutes' walk from this colorful square leads to Piazza Navona, a truly grandiose space whose form derives from the ancient Domitian Stadium. Piazza Navona contains quintessential monuments of Roman baroque, such as the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone and Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers.
A few hundred meters away, just short of Via del Corso, is another space that captures the essence of Rome, Piazza Sant'Ignazio. The piazza, an important example of 18th-century architecture in Rome, was built to provide a suitably elegant setting for the Church of Sant'Ignazio, dedicated to the founder of the Society of Jesus, Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
The nearby Piazza di Pietra is a fine example of how ancient and modern buildings can co-exist harmoniously. The last leg of the tour brings us to the world-famous Piazza di Spagna. The piazza is better known as the Spanish Steps owing to the celebrated flight of steps running down from the Church of Trinità dei Monti to Bernini's boat fountain. The Spanish Steps are a meeting place for tourists and Romans who may, perhaps, have just finished shopping in the nearby Via Condotti and Via Frattina.
