Trevi Fountain Neighborhood – The complete guide

Is the Trevi Fountain neighborhood a good place to stay? 

You might be surprised to find that besides the fountain, there are many things to see, do, and explore right in this fascinating rione of Rome’s Centro Storico (historic center). 

Trevi Fountain Neighborhood - So much more than just a tourist spot

The Trevi Fountain is on most people’s top ten lists of things to see in Rome if not all of Italy. 

Besides being a gorgeous backdrop for Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, and a “bucket list” fountain to take your picture in front of, there is much more to this compact area of Rome.

This is a great place to stay in Rome if you:

• Love being able to walk everywhere
• Want to be close to public transportation 
• Want to be right in the center of Rome, including its hustle and bustle
• Have visited Rome before and want to take some time to explore the many beautiful and historic things in this area
• Have never visited Rome before and want to get a sense of what the historic center is like, especially in early morning or late evening

For suggestions for places to stay in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood, visit our page here.

You can also check directly on booking.com.

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Trevi Fountain Neighborhood – Things to see and do

It may seem like just a really busy and crowded touristy spot in the heart of Rome. 

But if you stay in this area, you'll have a wide variety of excellent places to eat, a fantastic location that puts you within easy walking distance to many other of Rome’s must-sees, and a wealth of things to do.

You can explore ancient Roman history, underground ruins, stunning art, beautiful churches, and a wide variety of architectural styles.

Start here:

Must-see Rome sites near the Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain really is right in the heart of Rome’s historic center, so is within walking distance of many “must-see” sites.

In about 10 minutes' walk you can reach the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Barberini, or Piazza Navona.

In about 20 minutes' walk you can reach Piazza del Popolo or the Colosseum.

Click here to see a Google map of the Trevi Fountain neighborhood and all the places listed on this page.

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Churches in the Trevi Fountain Neighborhood

There are some stunning churches right in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood that are worth visiting.

A visit inside these churches doesn’t need to take long so even if you have limited time in Rome, you should try to visit at least one or two of them.

Some of the highlights of the churches in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood are:

• The church of Saints Vincenzo and Anastasio which houses the hearts of 22 popes (yes, actual hearts!)
• The smallest church in Rome, Santa Maria Dell'Archetto.
• Borromini's first independent contract as sole architect in San Carlo Alle Quattro Fontane, where he created one of the jewels of the Baroque.
  
• The church of Santa Maria Della Vittoria, where you can see one of Bernini's most stunning works, the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

Underground sites to see in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood

In the Trevi Fountain neighborhood there are only a handful of underground sites you can easily visit, but they are quite special.

The site of Vicus Caprarius is my top recommendaton for visiting an underground site in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood.

It's a very cool underground spot around the corner from the Trevi Fountain where you can see where the water comes from. 

You can go alone or take a tour, depending on how much in-depth history you want about ancient Rome.

The space is underground but it’s a large open space, so it’s not claustrophobic.

other underground sites

In addition to Vicus Caprarius, you can also explore an ancient Roman home at Palazzo Valentini, 2nd century ruins in the basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina and even the ruins of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct in the Rinascente department store!

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Roman ruins near the Trevi Fountain

Here are a couple of easy-to-spot, free places to see Roman ruins in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood:

Hadrian’s temple

In Piazza di Pietra you can find the ruins of emperor Hadrian’s temple, incorporated into the Palazzo della Borsa.

All that remains of the ancient temple is the northern side with eleven columns. 

servian walls

In the center of the Magnanapoli roundabout you can see some remnants of the Servian walls. 

Museums in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood

There is a high concentration of art and history museums within a stone’s throw of the Trevi Fountain.  

As there are so many museums in this area, it can be tough to decide which ones to visit! My top suggestions are:

Galleria Doria Pamphilj

The gallery of mirrors alone makes this museum worth a visit, not to mention rooms of wonderful artwork including pieces by Caravaggio and Bernini as well as the famous painting of Pope Innocent X Pamphilj by Diego Valasquez.

Palazzo Colonna

Palazzo Colonna is an enormous residence holding stunning works of art by Pinturicchio, the Carracci brothers, Guido Reni, Tintoretto and more.

The mansion itself is a piece of history, and you can choose to include a visit to the huge gardens.

Palazzo Barberini

Palazzo Barberini holds one of the richest art collections in Rome, with paintings on display by Raphael and many other famous artists including Caravaggio and Domenichino.

Other fountains in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood

The Trevi Fountain is obviously the main attraction of this area, but Rome is a city of fountains, with many other fountains you can admire, including:

Four Fountains

The Four Fountains are part of an intersection just a few blocks from the Trevi Fountain.

Each fountain has a little water basin and a god/goddess with symbols that show us what (we think) they represent.

Tritone

One of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s most famous and, in my opinion, most beautiful fountains in Rome, is the Tritone in the middle of Piazza Barberini, made in 1644.

Moses fountain

Only one ancient Roman aqueduct kept functioning after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Aqua Vergine which feeds the Trevi Fountain.

The Romans therefore had to use a small fountain in this area.

The Moses Fountain was created to mark the end of this restored aqueduct by Pope Sixtus V.

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Interesting architecture and little streets in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood

Galleria Sciarra

The Galleria Sciarra was once built as a private courtyard, today it houses offices and a few shops. 

This 19th century painting style is called Art Nouveau and it’s one of the few examples we have of it in Rome.

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Via della pilotta

This lovely street with its 4-arched walkways takes its name from a game played in Ancient Rome, called pilotti or pilotta.

The arched walkways connect Palazzo Colonna to its private gardens along Quirinal Hill. 

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Vicolo del Monticello

Vicolo del Monticello is a tiny street just two blocks from the Trevi Fountain.

When you walk along this alleyway, look up and around.

The angles, the light, and the surprise glimpse of the adjacent church’s bell tower make this a very photographable spot.

And from this street you can reach more lovely small streets and angles.

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The best Rome views near the Trevi Fountain

I'm often asked where to get the best views in Rome.

The Trevi Fountain is part of the Quirinale Hill but it's at a low level in Rome’s historic center, so you won’t find lots of options for views.

Quirinale

By far the best view of Rome near the Trevi Fountain is from the Quirinal Hill, an easy climb.

You can see Saint Peter’s dome and when the sun is setting, it’s really beautiful.

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Trinità dei monti

Not far from the Trevi Fountain is the top of the Spanish Steps, the Trinità dei Monti.

You'll get some lovely views from there as well.

It can be a little crowded so you may want to keep walking a little further along to the Pincio Hill for even better views.

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Campidoglio

Piazza Venezia and the Vittoriano monument are only about a 10-minute walk from the Trevi Fountain.

On the far side you will see the ramp that leads to Capitoline Hill, or Campidoglio.

From there, head to the back for the most iconic views of Rome over the Roman Forum.

Rooftop bars near the Trevi Fountain

Besides the Hotel Fontana and Relais Fontana di Trevi, neither of which has a public bar, there is no hotel with a view right over the Trevi Fountain.

And since the Trevi Fountain is at a pretty low sea level in Rome, you won’t find that many options for really excellent rooftops bars nearby.

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Hotel de Cesari

Probably my favorite rooftop bar near the Trevi Fountain is the one atop the unassuming Hotel 9 Cesari. 

You could easily pass by the main door on the street, but once you get to the roof, you will not be disappointed.

While it does not boast a killer view of a major monument, it’s a very welcoming space, with a wonderful view of Roman rooftops. 

Drinks are affordable for a rooftop bar and there is a limited snack menu.

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Singer Palace Hotel

The old Singer sewing factory building is now a sleek 3-star hotel called the Singer Palace Hotel.

It's a perfect addition to the few places where you can have drinks or dinner with a rooftop view in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood.

Best shopping near the Trevi Fountain

The two main streets leading to and from the Trevi Fountain are full of touristy junky shops.

This is not where you are going to get much quality shopping done unless you are looking for small affordable souvenirs.

Via del Corso

This long street is full of well-known brands selling everything from souvenirs to shoes, so is a great spot if you're looking for variety.

You'll find something for everyone, but don’t look for cute boutiques or vintage shops here.

Via Frattina

This is where you'll find the best concentration of shops ranging from big designer names to small, affordable boutiques.

Via Frattina is at the heart of Rome’s most famous “shopping zone”, an easy 15-20 minute walk from the Trevi Fountain.

Rinascente

While you'll find Roman ruins and rooftop views at the huge Rinascente flagship store, its main function is as Rome's finest department store.

As with most department stores, there is something for everyone, plus there's also a large food court with food market on the 6th floor.

Parks and Gardens in the Trevi Fountain Neighborhood

One thing lacking in the area near the Trevi Fountain is green space.

There are a few private gardens you can visit, but public parks are harder to come by.

But there are a few.

Here are some of the best the Trevi Fountain neighborhood has to offer:

Villa Carlo Alberto 

This little park just across from the Quirinal Palace has an equestrian statue of Carlo Alberto, father of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy.

Gardens of Palazzo Barberini

You don't have to visit the museum of Palazzo Barberini to visit one of the most beautiful free gardens in the Trevi Fountain neighborhood.

Just walk towards the palazzo and head straight to the back.

There are some benches and a small fountain where you can sit and enjoy the garden.

The gardens are open daily even when the museum is closed.

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Villa Aldobrandini

I consider this park to be one of the “secret” gardens in Rome as most people have no idea it’s there! But it’s really worth it if the gardens are well-kept (sometimes they are, sometimes they aren’t.) 

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What to do with kids near the Trevi Fountain

Time Elevator

This Disney-esque experience allows you to experience a kind of time travel with 3 different “full immersion” shows – The History of Rome, Evolution of Life, and a Horror Show. 

Each show takes less than an hour and is available in 6 different languages.

This is a great way to entertain children and teenagers.

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Palazzo Valentini

I love visiting the Domus Romana in Palazzo Valentini for the history and the amazingly well-preserved ruins and mosaic floors.

Kids will love the way it’s presented, with the multimedia light shows and plexiglass floors that allow you to see the ruins beneath your feet.

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Leonardo da Vinci Experience

This area is more a part of the Spanish Steps neighborhood, but this is a fantastic thing to do with kids.

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Wax Museum

It may be a bit corny but a wax museum can be another fun way to spend an hour or so in Rome and entertain kids.

And it’s so close to the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Venezia you can easily combine it with other things.

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