Many a cobbled Roman street leads to a piazza and the sound of trickling water in a fabulous fountain. Rome has some of the most breathtaking piazzas in the world, full of historic significance, a place to meet friends and loved ones, a spot to enjoy a bite or pre-dinner apéritif, and the perfect place to watch the world go by. Each square has a unique feel, a story to tell, and a particular atmosphere. Here is a snapshot of four of Rome’s most beautiful piazzas. Piazza San Pietro (Saint Peter’s Square) One of Rome’s largest and most impressive piazzas, Piazza San Pietro, designed by Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, stands at the entrance to Saint Peter’s Basilica. The piazza is an impressive size measuring 320m by 240m. Impressive for many reasons, the curved colonnades around the outside of the piazza feature four rows of 284 columns. Above the columns are 140 statues of saints, constructed in 1670. Two circular matching fountains stand on either side of the central obelisk, one created by Bernini in 1675 and the other by Maderno in 1614. In the center of the piazza is a 25m high obelisk that originated from Egypt and was moved to Rome in 37 AD. Piazza Navona Piazza Navona is a magnificent square, home to three elegant Baroque fountains. Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) created in 1651 takes center stage and is topped by the Obelisk of Domitian. The piazza itself was built on the remains of an ancient Roman stadium, the Stadium of Domitian, where the ancient Romans went to watch the games. At each end of the piazza is a fountain, both designed by artist Giacomo della Porta. At the south end is the Fontana del Moro, and the other is Fontana del Nettuno. At night the fountains are beautifully lit creating a distinct atmosphere. Definitely a piazza to explore on an evening stroll. The Brazilian Embassy enjoys its location in the 17th century Palazzo Pamphili. Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere Located across the other side of the Tiber in the heart of the Trastevere neighborhood is Piazza di Santa Maria. Positioned in this square is one of the oldest churches in Rome, dating back to the 3rd century, the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. In the center of the Piazza, in front of the Basilica is a fountain which is thought to be one of the oldest in the Eternal City, dating back to the 8th century. Reconstruction of the fountain took place between 1499 and 1500 by Donato Bramante. With many of the cobbled streets leading to the piazza hosting an array of independent restaurants and bars, the piazza comes to life at night. The steps of the fountain are the perfect place to relax, enjoy an ice cream and people watch. Piazza della Rotonda Piazza della Rotonda offers the perfect view of the Pantheon, an incredible architectural feat, featuring the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. When standing inside the Pantheon, which is also a church, it is incredible to see the light coming through the Pantheon’s oculus. It’s even more amazing to be inside when it is raining and raindrops are coming through the dome. Smaller than some of the other squares, the piazza also hosts the Fontana del Pantheon along with an obelisk that was added in 1711. Commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII, the Fountain of the Pantheon was designed by Giacomo Della Porta in 1575. Sculpted out of marble, this water feature stands proudly in front of the Pantheon. If you would like to find out more about Rome’s piazzas, join us for a tour with one of our expert guides. Check out all our tours here

Allow us to introduce you to Ilaria who has been working as an Enjoy Rome Tour Guide for a number of years. As an award-winning Tour Agency, we strive to always deliver a superior service, ensuring that our visitors receive the best service and tours. As such, we work solely with licensed guides who have degrees and PhDs in Archaeology and the History of Arts. Our expert multi-lingual Tour Guides have exceptional knowledge of the Eternal City and other places in Italy where we operate tours (Venice, Florence, Tivoli, and Pompei. All tours are listed on www.enjoyrome.com). They love sharing their knowledge and insights with visitors. Every year thousands of guests join us for tours and learn about the history of the Vatican, Colosseum, Roman Forum, and many other historic places and monuments. What is the best thing about being an Enjoy Rome Tour Guide? “I enjoy meeting people from all over the world and sharing information about my wonderful city with them. No two groups are the same. Visitors come to Italy from all over the world. They have different interests and things they want to know about. The great thing about smaller group tours is being able to have conversations with our visitors as a group. Often one person’s question will spark an interest in that topic with someone else in the group. I love seeing people’s reactions when they see something spectacular for the first time. Rome has so many breathtaking views, works of art, and ancient buildings, and particularly for those who are visiting for the first time, it is lovely to see their reactions. For me, it’s a pleasure to introduce people to the Eternal City.” What are the benefits to visitors of a small group, private or semi-private tour of the Vatican or Colosseum? “The major benefit is that our tours have local tour guides leading them. It’s not just a recording people are listening to, so our visitors have the chance to interact, ask questions and get more in-depth knowledge. They can also ask for recommendations of places to visit or restaurants where they can eat typical Roman cuisine. Many of our tours are ‘skip the line’ so it’s quick to access places such as the Vatican and Colosseum. At certain times of the year these locations are extremely crowded so being able to skip the line means starting the tour without having to hang about in long queues. This is a massive benefit particularly when it’s hot. With a local tour guide who has grown up in the city and knows the city inside out, visitors gain an insider’s perspective and often get a sneak peek at some hidden gems.” If you were asked for the top 5 things to see and do in Rome, what would you recommend? “With so many amazing things to see and do and places to visit, it’s hard to pick just 5. If someone is visiting for the first time, I would recommend visiting: The Vatican The Colosseum The Roman Forum The City Centre (covers well-known locations such as the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon, to name just a few) Trastevere We look forward to welcoming you soon.” To find out more about our tours of Rome, check out enjoyrome.com or take a look at our blog for some insights into some of the delights Rome offers.

We love welcoming visitors to Rome. We know what an incredible city we live in and always take great pleasure in offering all our guests a special experience. Exceptional customer service is at the heart of what we do. We aim to offer superior customer service from the moment someone visits our website or contacts us via social media, WhatsApp, phone, or in-person when entering our office. Features Because of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, we have ensured our bright and airy office close to the Vatican is set up to welcome visitors again safely. We have installed perspex screens at the reception desk and put social distancing measures in place; we have hand sanitizer available and ensure all staff and visitors wear masks. Location The Enjoy Rome office is strategically located close to the Vatican City, just a five-minute walk to the Vatican Museums and a ten-minute walk to the Ottaviano Metro station. It is here that guests joining us for one of our Vatican Tours check in to meet their tour guides. We know that there is a lot to see on our tours and there will be a lot of walking, which is why we chose this location for one of our offices. Many other tour companies meet their guests in front of the Vatican. We like to offer our visitors a place where they can relax before or after their tours. Our offices have a comfortable lounge and bathroom, plug sockets to recharge mobiles and electronic devices, refreshments, a vending machine, and an ATM cash machine. Staff and Tour Guides We are fortunate to work with licensed guides from the City Council of Rome. Our expert tour guides have degrees and PhDs in Archaeology and the History of Arts. Our Enjoy Rome staff are available to help our visitors and will happily answer questions, provide maps and make recommendations for places to visit or restaurants and bars to eat at. When you join an Enjoy Rome small group guided tour, you can always expect a very warm welcome and a memorable experience.