Italy
Hidden Gems in Rome: 4 Little-Known Piazzas
It’s easy to get off the beaten path in Rome, so why not discover some of the Eternal City's hidden piazzas and experience a slice of local life?
Rome’s captivating piazzas lie at its vibrant beating heart. They are historic meeting places where life goes on much as it has for centuries – friends meet up over steaming plates of cacio e pepe pasta at lunch, raucous groups discuss politics over Aperol Spritz aperitivi in the evening, kids play on the cobbles… Piazzas are around every corner in this charming and gently chaotic city. Some, like Piazza Navona and Piazza del Popolo, are grand, fountain-filled and lined with architectural landmarks, but it’s very easy to step out of their slipstream and find yourself in a tranquil, nigh-deserted and secluded piazza; follow our guide and you’ll soon discover four of the best hidden gems in Rome.
And remember, as Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes once commented, “When thou art at Rome, do as they do at Rome.” The easiest way to tap into the timeless vibe of the Eternal City is to settle in a cosy piazza-side bar and indulge in the Roman art of dolce far niente (the “sweetness of doing nothing”).
Exploring back alleys: 4 hidden gems in Rome
1. Piazza della Madonna dei Monti – where the Romans go
Piazza Madonna dei Monti is tucked away in the achingly fashionable and boho quartiere of Monti, Rome’s hidden gem of an urban village – it’s a few minutes’ meander from the Colosseum and Trajan’s Market yet eons away from the the city’s tourist heartlands. Overlooked by the gorgeous, pink-tinged church of Santa Maria dei Monti and dominated by the octagonal Catecumeni Fountain, the cobbled square is surrounded by a mélange of faded townhouses, pop-up galleries, indie stores and terrace restaurants peering out under leafy pergolas.
By day, join local workers and students as they gather to gossip on the steps of the marble fountain. However, the action really kicks off later in the evening, when the music ramps up and hipsters gather in trendy bars to drink cocktails and put the world noisily to rights.
- Getting there: The closest metro is Line B to Colosseum, one of the best stations for sightseers. Or stay in the heart of Monti at Mercure Roma Centro Termini, a modern hotel in a beautiful period building.
2. Piazza Mattei – home of a lesser-known Rome artwork
Seen the fabulously OTT Niccolò Salvi fountain in Piazza di Trevi? It’s not the only city square adorned with an iconic masterpiece; head for Piazza Mattei in the meandering alleys of the evocative Sant’Angelo district and you’ll find one of Rome’s hidden treasures – the beguiling and lesser-known 16th-century Fountain of Turtles. Awash with lithe bronze figures of male nudes cradling dolphins and turtles, it’s both evocative and surprising.
This peaceful hidden spot in Rome is also home to several Renaissance mansions once owned by the powerful Mattei dynasty. Open for guided walking tours, the ornate, ochre-coloured Palazzo Mattei is adorned with Renaissance statuary and backed by serene gardens.
- Getting there: Take metro Line B to Colosseum; from there the piazza is about a 20-minute walk through an enchanting labyrinth of lanes. You can also skip the public transport by staying at the central Mercure Rome Colosseum Centre, with its rooftop pool overlooking the famed amphitheatre.
Good to know: The piazza is found in the oldest Jewish Quarter of any European city, with quality restaurants packing Via del Portico d’Ottavia close by.
3. Piazza della Minerva – a Rome gem hidden in plain sight
Often wrongly overlooked in the headlong rush to Piazza della Rotonda and the unique beauty of the breathtaking Pantheon nearby, Piazza della Minerva also has its fair share of spectacular architecture. Pride of place at its heart goes to the granite ancient Egyptian obelisk, rather precariously balanced on the back of a marble elephant kitted out in ceremonial costume. It’s overlooked by the gleaming white façade of Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva; we recommend you spend some time admiring its exquisite interior, festooned by frescoes and sculptures by stellar artists including Michelangelo and Bernini.
- Getting there: Take metro Line B to Colosseum and a 20-minute walk taking in the Forum and Pantheon en route.
Good to know: Rome is home to 13 ancient obelisks – more than anywhere else in the world! If you’d like to see more, there’s one round the corner in Piazza della Rotonda, and a giant column stands in the Vatican City’s monumental Piazza San Pietro.
4. Piazza San Cosimato – a local favourite in Rome
A hidden gem in Trastevere – where washing still hangs on lines across the alleys – triangular Piazza San Cosimato is a charismatic mash-up of Romanesque (peek inside the Church of San Cosimato for jewel-coloured frescoes), Renaissance and contemporary edifices liberally dappled with colourful street art.
Here you can mix with the denizens of this cool neighbourhood while picking up a fresh-as-the-day cheese, prosciutto and ciabatta from the market (open Monday–Saturday 6am–1:30pm) or treating the kids to an ice cream from Otaleg – the Rome gelateria for those in the know. If you visit later in the day, take your pick of gourmet choices in cosmopolitan restaurants offering Korean barbecue, sushi or pasta dishes.
- Getting there: Take metro Line B to Colosseum and walk across the River Tiber to the piazza in half an hour.
Good to know: On June and July evenings, the square morphs into an open-air cinema as the Cinema in Piazza film festival swings into action.
We’ve shared some of our favourite hidden gems in Rome – but there are many more secret places for you to discover for yourselves… all easily accessible from our Rome hotels!
Plan your stay in Rome with Mercure now
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