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Holidays in Rome: Via dei Leutari.
Holidays in Rome: Via dei Leutari.
Palazzo Olivia apartments are situated in Via dei Leutari, a perfect starting point for delightful walks to discover Renaissance Rome. You can reach all the main points in the city from Via dei Leutari by public transport.
There are different theories on the origins of the Leutari name. Someone says it was the name of an ancient Roman family. Others believe the name comes from the musical instruments workshops present in the street in the past (leutari means lutists). Via dei Leutari begins in Piazza Pasquino and once it had a dead-end on the side of Palazzo della Cancelleria, while it now opens up on Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Many events have occurred here in the past. As you can see in the section The Barber, at No.35 (just in front of Palazzo Olivia) Gioachino Rossini composed his most important opera, Il Barbiere di Siviglia. The large building marked with Nos. 21 and 23 was property of Cardinal Montalto, who reigned 1585-90 as Pope Sisto V. The noble house has two stone-bordered doorways, with coat of arms animal sculptures.
With the opening of Corso Vittorio Emanuele (in 1880), several buildings were demolished. Among these: the house of Pietro da Cortona; the palazzo of Cardinal Dovizi da Bibbiena, the famous author of one of the first comedies of Italian literature La Calandra and friend of Pope Leo X. Maria Bibbiena died in the same building; she was Raphael's girlfriend, and is now buried in the Pantheon near the famous artist. The legend has it that she died for lovesickness, as the painter abandoned her for other women.
Holidays in Rome: the Rione Parione.
Holidays in Rome: the Rione Parione.
Your holiday in Rome in one of Palazzo Olivia’s apartments will lead you to discover an important area of the city: the Rione Parione. It is symbolised by a winged horse and is one of the most densely populated and richest areas in Rome. It was once an antechamber of the Roman court – a world of palaces, hotels, books, parties and courtesans.
In ancient times, the Codeta Minor area was cleared and enlarged by Julius Caesar; then the Emperor Domitian built here a stadium, still recognizable in Piazza Navona perimeter. A large ruin once stood near the stadium. The rione got his name from that ruin: Parione comes from the Latin word "paries" (wall).
Up until the 15th century, the area kept the aspect of a typical medieval village. Campo de' Fiori was a cluster of ruins, utilized only for animal farming. Then Pope Sisto IV decided to pave the area surrounding the Pantheon, to make it the new city's Forum, a splendid urban centre crossed by the Via Florida. Many Cardinals established here, and during the Renaissance palaces, hotels, typographies and bookshops were built in the rione, making it the gathering point of Roman intellectual bourgeoisie.
The Via Major or Papalis (from Palazzo Orsini to Palazzo Nola), the Vicus Novus in Campo Florae (Via de Baullari), the Platea Parionis (Piazza di Pasquino) and the Via Parionis (Via del Governo Vecchio) were the background to the two famous piazzas, Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Navona. Palaces with beautiful colonnades, majestic atriums, imposing towers, sophisticated loggias, paintings, clock towers.
Bramante's building (the future Palazzo della Cancelleria) reigned since 1486, together with the Piccola Farnesina, built after Raphael's project. Cardinal Condulmieri's Palazzo, house of ambassadors and princes, stood out in Campo de Fiori. The Platea Agonis (Piazza Navona) was dominated by Palazzo Orsini, later demolished to build Palazzo Braschi. The ancient Via Parionis (Via del Governo Vecchio) housed Cardinal Nardini's Palazzo, then sold to the Vatican to make it the seat of the papal government.
Parione was the rione of ambassadors and scoundrels, of courtesans and Jewish merchants, whose flourishing business attracted foreign tradesmen. For example, Via del Pellegrino, named Jeweller Street in the 17th century, was famous for goldsmiths and gunsmiths. Pope Innocent X moved Piazza Navona market to Campo de Fiori, where it still is. In the 19th century Piazza Navona housed the puppet theater, shows and popular games. Since 1829 it was also a famous musical centre, as Palazzo Lancellotti was the seat of the celebrated Filarmonica Romana, then renamed as Accademia di Santa Cecilia.
Holidays in Rome: a walk towards Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain
Holidays in Rome: a walk towards Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain
Palazzo Olivia presents a series of itineraries to discover sites that are symbols of Rome. The starting point for your walk will be your apartment and the interactive maps will help you discover the history and particular features of Rome’s wonders.
For a careful visit, this itinerary should be split in more than one day. When you leave Palazzo Olivia turn left, pass by Piazza Pasquino and have a look at Palazzo Braschi (A). Then devote an adequate amount of time to the glory of Piazza Navona (B). There are so many beautiful things on this piazza! Most important ones are Palazzo Pamphilj and the church of S. Agnese (C) on the left, and the church of S. Giacomo degli Spagnoli (D) on the right.
Then proceed to Corso Rinascimento, pass by Palazzo Madama (E) (seat of the Italian Senate) and stop at the church of S. Luigi dei Francesi (F), where you can admire some of the best Caravaggios. Walk by the rear facade of Palazzo Madama and reach the church of S. Ivo alla Sapienza (G), one of Borromini's most original creations. Then cross Piazza S. Eustachio and have one of the most famous coffee in Rome at the bar on the piazza.
Visit S. Maria sopra Minerva (H), with Bernini's marble elephant, and get to the Pantheon (I), Rome's best-preserved ancient temple. Pass by Piazza di Pietra (L), and reach Piazza Colonna (M) and Via del Corso. From here, in five minutes you can reach the Trevi Fountain (N), Rome's grandest and best-known fountain.
The itinerary "A walk towards Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain" is available in Adobe Acrobat.
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Holidays in Rome: a walk towards St. Peter's and Castel Sant'Angelo.
Holidays in Rome: a walk towards St. Peter’s and Castel Sant'Angelo.
Palazzo Olivia presents a series of itineraries to discover sites that are symbols of Rome. The starting point for your walk will be your apartment and the interactive maps will help you discover the history and particular features of Rome’s wonders.
When you leave Palazzo Olivia turn left and reach Via del Governo Vecchio (A), with a large number of Renaissance houses. The streets ends in Piazza dell'Orologio (B), with a clock tower by Borromini.
Then proceed on Via di Panico (C). At the end of Via di Panico you have two choices: you can cross the Tiber and reach Castel S. Angelo (D), St. Peter and the Vatican Museums (E) (but we suggest you take a full day to visit this area). Or else you can turn right and take Via dei Coronari (F) the street of antique dealers.
On the left Piazza S. Salvatore in Lauro (G), with its 16th century church and convent. Pass by Piazzetta S. Simeone with Palazzo Lancellotti (H), and walk to the end of Via dei Coronari. You should now visit Palazzo Altemps (I), one of the seats of the Roman National Museum. Now you can start your way back. Visit the church of S. Maria dell'Anima (L), and take a small deviation to reach the picturesque church of S. Maria della Pace (M) in its charming small square. Coming back home, stop by to say hallo to the talking statue of Pasquino (N).
The itinerary "A walk towards St. Peter’s and Castel Sant'Angelo" is available in Adobe Acrobat.
RSS Feed of the itinerary.
Holidays in Rome: a walk towards the River Tevere and Trastevere.
Holidays in Rome: a walk towards the River Tevere and Trastevere.
Palazzo Olivia presents a series of itineraries to discover sites that are symbols of Rome. The starting point for your walk will be your apartment and the interactive maps will help you discover the history and particular features of Rome’s wonders.
When you leave Palazzo Olivia turn right and cross Corso Vittorio Emanuele. You are now in Piazza della Cancelleria. The papal administration ran the affairs of the church from the Palazzo della Cancelleria (A), one of the masterpieces of the Early Renaissance's architecture. On the other side, the square ends in Campo de' Fiori (B), one of the city's most entertaining places, with its colourful market. In the adjacent Piazza del Biscione, you can see the Palazzo Pio Righetti, built over the ruined Theater of Pompey (C).
Continue on Campo de' Fiori and take Via dei Baullari to reach the wonderful Piazza Farnese (D), a quiet square almost untouched by the city's traffic, with its monumental Renaissance palazzo created by Michelangelo and other great artists. Then proceed to Piazza della Quercia, a small square of the old Rome, with Palazzo Spada (E) and its picture gallery.
Turn right and reach the Lungotevere. You are now in front of the recently restored Ponte Sisto (F). Crossing the Tiber you can reach Trastevere. In our itinerary, however, we stay on this side of the river, walking by Via Giulia (G), one of the most beautiful streets in Rome. Take the pleasure of looking into the several courtyards hidden inside its noble buildings.
When you reach the small church of S. Filippo Neri, turn right in the small square. The buildings here once housed the papal prisons. Turn right once more and take Via di Monserrato (H), to start your way back home. Turning left, you can walk by Via dei Cappellari (I), proceed to Via del Pellegrino (L), and then come back to Campo dei Fiori, where you can have a well-deserved rest and a glass of wine in one of the coffee shops of the square.
The itinerary "A walk towards the River Tevere and Trastevere" is available in Adobe Acrobat.
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Holidays in Rome: a walk towards Campidoglio and the Imperial Forums.
Holidays in Rome: a walk towards Campidoglio and the Imperial Forums.
Palazzo Olivia presents a series of itineraries to discover sites that are symbols of Rome. The starting point for your walk will be your apartment and the interactive maps will help you discover the history and particular features of Rome’s wonders.
When you leave Palazzo Olivia turn right and then left on Corso Vittorio to go to Largo Argentina. Stop by the church of S. Andrea della Valle (A), the setting of the first act of Puccini's "Tosca". Then continue to the Area Sacra dell'Argentina (B) with the remains of some of the oldest temples found in Rome. At the beginning of Via Arenula, turn left on Via dei Falegnami and reach the small Piazza Mattei (C) with its Tortoises Fountain. Proceed to Via del Portico d'Ottavia (D), to have a look at the Jewish "Ghetto". Then stop in Piazza Campitelli (E), full of noble buildings. A further stop in the charming Piazza Margana (F), then pass by the Capitol steps and look at the Theatre of Marcellus (G).
Ten minutes walk will lead you to a quiet corner of the city beside the Tiber, which was the site of ancient Rome's first port and its busy cattle market. Here you can take your chance, placing your hand inside the Bocca della Verità (H) (the Mouth of Truth). But also, you can admire the charming church of S. Maria in Cosmedin, the classical Temples of the Forum Boarium (I), and the elegant church of S. Giorgio in Velabro (L).
Now you are ready for another magic moment: the Capitol (M). You can reach it from the back side, to have a look at the Forum (you should devote at least one full day to visit of this archaelogical area and the Colosseum). Or you can make your way back and climb the steps to Michelangelo's square: this is a strong emotion. You can spend a full day here: visiting the Capitoline Museums, having a drink on Palazzo Caffarelli's terrace with its spectacular view, or looking at the sunset on the Imperial Forum from the top of the hill. At the back of Piazza del Campidoglio, climb a few steps on the left, pass through a small gate and you will be on top of the huge terrace of Victor Emmanuel Monument (N). Walking from one side to the other, you can look at a breathtaking view of the Eternal City.
On your way back, you can visit one of the excellent exhibitions held in the Vittoriano. Then pass by Piazza Venezia (O), take Via del Plebiscito and stop to visit the church of Gesù (P). Ten-minutes walk to go back home.
The itinerary "A walk towards Campidoglio and the Imperial Forums" is available in Adobe Acrobat.
RSS Feed of the itinerary.
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