Filed under: architecture, city center, featuredarticle1, history, Shopping, sightseeing, top-feature
Walking Via Del Corso
Like many of Europe’s capital cities, Rome (map) is a walking city. The real way to experience the dusty cobblestones and navigate your way across the zig-zags of the inner city streets is on foot – plus you don’t want to miss the people, the architecture, and the regular cappuccino and gelato stops along the way. One of my favorite walks is down the Corso Via Del Corso, sometimes just called the “Corso”. This road has stood here for centuries – it was one of the roads the ancient Romans built to lead traffic into the city from one of the main gates. Today, the street is one of Rome’s shopping streets, but there is plenty to see and do here on your visit.
Shopping
Whether you want some new sports clothes or the latest Italian fashions, Via Del Corso will keep your hands full of bags and your wallet empty, without a doubt. Souvenir shops seem to compete with each other for the latest deals, so if you’re wanting a plastic St Peter’s Basilica or a Roman waterglobe, you’ll find that too. But anyone with a camera will likely end up at the Galleria Alberto Sordi (map), an art noveau shopping arcade built at the beginning of the 1900s.
Eating
While I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat along the Via del Corso, pretty much anywhere in Rome is a good place to eat. It’s just a Roman thing. One tip is to check out Rosati, near Via di Ripetta (map), for cafe/bistro style food. It has been said that you can spot a local movie star there, but I think this is all marketing as when I went it was mostly tourists. But there are so many cafes and little nameless places along the route where a tasty, piping hot espresso is guaranteed, so trust me, you won’t have any trouble going hungry here.
Architecture
Architecture is another reason why you should explore Via Del Coros thoroughly. At Piazza Del Popolo (map), the street enters/exits the square via two gorgeous churches, Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli, both built in the 1600s. The road obviously came first, then the churches, but it’s clear that religion has always been important!
About halfway down Corso you’ll enter a large square which is centered around a large column, the Colonna Square (map). This was built by the Roman Senate to celebrate the accomplishments of a Roman emperor, Marco Aurelio.
Via Del Corso number 20 (map) is a unique home – this is where the famous German poet Goethe lived. Across the street, the Palazzo Rodanini once was a very famous art gallery.
And last but not least, you can’t miss the sight of walking out of the Corso and into Piazza Di Spagna (map), where you’ll see Spanish Steps. It’s just an incredible sight – and a great place to stop and sit if your feet are tired.
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Watching
I seem to keep harping on about this, but I really wish more people would stop rushing through Rome from chapel to museum, and instead just stop and look around. This city has so much history and such a colorful atmosphere, and many visitors miss it in their quest to see every priceless antique. Grab a takeaway coffee and just stroll. Window shop. Look at the locals in contrast to the tourists. Smell the clogged air, listen to the noisy bustle of Italy’s capital. History continues to be recorded here – don’t miss it.
PS – If you want one of those photos of Via Del Corso from high above, then visit the Altare della Patria (map), also known as the “wedding cake building” (though I don’t see the resemblance). You’ll get a perfect shot of the street from up above – perfect on a clear, sunny day.
Photo by Chris Yunker
