Famous Places in Rome: The 7 Squares You Shouldn’t Miss

Public squares are part of Rome's charm. They're gathering places, and usually buzzing with life. Below you'll find what we consider the 7 most famous squares in Rome (all of them in the main areas worth seeing in Rome).

The 7 most famous squares in Rome

They're the Romans' favorite spots for people watching, and young people meet up in them before heading out to the bars and clubs.

Every Roman square has an interesting story behind it, and the monuments that decorate them are the legacy of many renowned artists.

1. The Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna)

Piazza di Spagna, or the Spanish Steps in Rome, is the one with the wide staircase covered in people that you've probably seen in photos of the city. Locals and visitors gather here to watch the world go by, chat in the late afternoon, eat gelato or cool off in summer.

The monument that graces the Spanish Steps, the Fontana della Barcaccia, sits at the foot of the staircase and was sculpted by Pietro Bernini. 

This square marks one end of the famous Via Condotti, the city's shopping street, home to some of the world's most prestigious designer stores.

It's in the Campo Marzio district and has a nearby metro stop named after the square: Spagna.

Staying in this part of Rome is always a good call. Take a look at our pick of hotels near the Spanish Steps or the best hotels on Via del Corso and find your ideal hotel in Rome.

2. Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona, in the Parione district, is considered by many to be the most beautiful square in Rome.  The main fountain of the three that adorn it was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and dedicated to the four continents known at the time.

It's ringed by cafés and restaurants with tables spilling onto the street, which gives it a very Italian feel. Inside the square, plenty of artists and caricaturists display and make their work.

Although the street market that once took place here moved to the neighboring square of Campo de' Fiori, at Christmas a traditional market sets up with sweets and gelato, carousels and all kinds of activities for Rome with kids. 

This Roman square should definitely be a must-see stop for anyone visiting the city. You can walk from here to the Pantheon, which is very close by.

3. Piazza del Popolo

A short walk from the Spanish Steps lies the vast Piazza del Popolo, the People's Square, in Italian:  Piazza del Popolo. Since ancient times it has been an important meeting point for the people of Rome.

In centuries past it served as a stage for fairs, shows and grimmer affairs such as public executions. Today Romans still gather in this square for concerts and political protests. 

The Flaminio Obelisk stands at the center of the square and was moved here from the Circus Maximus. The square is part of the Campo Marzio district, and three of Rome's main streets start here: Via del Corso, Via del Babuino and Via di Ripetta.

4. Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia is perhaps the most majestic square in Rome. The monument to Vittorio Emanuele II and the Palazzo Venezia give it the grandeur it's known for.

From the balconies of Palazzo Venezia overlooking this square, Benito Mussolini delivered his famous speeches. From there too, Pope Paul II watched the riderless horse races that ran along Via del Corso and finished right here.

The part of the historic center where this monument stands is formally known as Pigna, and very close by you'll find the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the Quirinal Palace.

5. Piazza del Campidoglio

From Piazza Venezia you can walk to the fifth square on the list: the Piazza del Campidoglio.

Rome's Capitoline square was designed by Michelangelo himself, who didn't live long enough to see the whole project finished.

It's surrounded by three palaces, one occupied by Rome's City Hall and the other two by one of the oldest museums in the world: the Capitoline Museums.

A standout monument (a copy, in fact, since the original is inside the museum) that you'll find in Piazza del Campidoglio is the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.  

6. Campo dei Fiori

 Campo dei Fiori is the close neighbor of Piazza Navona, both set within the Parione district, a lovely Rome neighborhood that borders Campo Marzio.

This Roman square is famous for two things: being home to the Campo dei Fiori market and being one of the liveliest meeting points in Rome's nightlife.

The market runs Monday to Saturday until around three in the afternoon. Then, as night falls, the bars, cafés and restaurants around the square start filling up with people out for a drink and a bite. Younger crowds show up with their own drinks and settle in on the square itself.

7. Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere

Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere is the gathering place for visitors and locals alike in one of Rome's loveliest neighborhoods, Trastevere.

The square is home to the church of the same name, along with plenty of cafes and restaurants serving genuinely good, authentic Italian food.

Sit by the fountain in the middle of the square and you'll see all sorts: foreign visitors, families with small children, older residents who have lived here their whole lives, students… everyone soaking up the special atmosphere of this neighborhood which, as we've said before, is a firm favorite among those of us who write this guide.

Finally, we couldn't leave out St. Peter's Square, even though it belongs to Vatican City rather than the city of Rome.

You could call it the single most important meeting place for Catholics. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and sits at the foot of St. Peter's Basilica.