Short Walk in Rome (Italy) #5: from Prati to Trastevere

We’ve been in Rome for a month and a half and I’m starting to have a little routine. I regularly go to the district of Prati, either to my masseuse or to my dentist, and to get back to our Airbnb in Trastevere, I always take the same route through the monuments of downtown Rome. I like it very much.

Part 1: Travel Diary
Part 2: Practical Tips

Part 1: Travel Diary

Already, after the appointment at the dentist’s, I always treat myself to an ice cream to reward myself for all the suffering caused by the appointment. I go either to Venchi or to the Romanaaccording to my mood of the day. Or if I’m hungry, I treat myself to a French beef tartare with mashed potatoes to fall for at the Carré Français.

Piazza del Popolo

Then I pass in front of Piazza del Popolo, dominated by an obelisk from the temple of Ra in Heliopolis, brought to Rome by Augustus.

At the top you can recognize the terrace of Villa Borghese

Next to it are two identical churches, on the left is the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto, on the right Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Following the street on the left, you will pass several luxury boutiques and arrive at Piazza di Spagna

Piazza di Spagna

Here you can go up and down the famous stairs (where it is forbidden to sit) and the Barcaccia fountain (in the shape of a baroque boat ). The staircase leads to the Trinità dei Monti church

The view from the church at the top :

To the left of the stairs is Babington’s tea room, the oldest tea room in Rome.

The Column of the Immaculate Conception in front of the Spanish Embassy is erected in Piazza Mignanelli, and extends the Piazza di Spagna

You can also try the pastries of another tea room right next door: at Antico Caffe Greco, one of the most famous and ancient cafés in Rome

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain isn’t far away and the atmosphere is magical in the evening when everyone sits around the fountain to chat, eat an ice cream. There are barriers preventing people from getting any closer to the fountain, perhaps to prevent the theft of coins as well. So on the pictures, it looks nice, it looks like it’s empty of tourists, but it’s the only place in Rome that is still very crowded at the moment.

The fountain was designed at the request of Pope Clement XII, who in 1730 organized a competition to celebrate, with a fountain, the Aqua Virgo aqueduct built in 19 B.C. It is customary to throw a coin by the right arm, turning the back to the fountain, thus ensuring that the person throwing it can return to Rome to retrieve his coin. In reality, every day the coins are cleaned and collected for a charity (1 million euros a year before the Covid).

Here is the typical photo “I came to Rome” 😀

The Pantheon & The Temple of Hadrian

We pass in front of the Pantheon, which is located in a very nice square and also very frequented by street artists and musicians.

Then in front of Hadrian’s temple, of which only a few columns remain. In the evening, there is a mini sound and light show, not impressive but nice anyway.

Then I recharge my energy if I am hungry, with a Bubble Tea at Te amo, before crossing the bridge and returning to Trastevere. These quays have always reminded me of Paris ^^I
love Rome because you can do a lot and visit a lot of things on foot. As I don’t like crowded public transport. Everything is only 30mn to 45mn maximum. And if I take the bus, it is never crowded.

Our next article in Rome is here

Part 2: Practical Tips

For excursions or guided tours in Rome, check out the activities offered by Civitatis or Viator (a Tripadvisor company)

Did you like this article? Read our travel diaries in Italy & Rome

You will find the addresses & places mentioned in this article on the personalized Google Maps I made with my sister for Italy here.