Enormous limestone building & square with armed forces securing it. Italian Supreme Court building…read moreFrom 1888. It was the first new building created once Italy was unified.

This stunning piazza was officially inaugurated in January 2015 and has become the new heart of…read moreTestaccio. It has an historical precedent: Piazza Testaccio was the main market square in the district from the 1920s onwards, until about five years ago when the market closed down and relocated to a site closer to the river. That left a gaping hole in Piazza Testaccio, and marked the start of an important renovation project, commencing with the return of the Fountain of the Amphorae and work to pave it over in gorgeous travertine stone. The rust coloured benches that ring the square are always full of locals stopping to chat, while the fountain (when it's working!) is once again a source of drinking water and represents a real monument to Testaccio's ancient past. The next few years are bound to see some bars and restaurants open round it's perimeter to take advantage of this gorgeous space. For now, it's a charming spot to stop round lunchtime and is just glorious at sunset.

Away from the Hordes…read more Getting away from all the big tourist attractions will allow you to discover many wonderful things that make Rome special. The Testaccio neighborhood fits the bill nicely, and the this piazza is a great place to relax and enjoy the slower pace without tourists everywhere you look.

The green horse is the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. This horse is a focal point of Piazza…read moredel Campidoglio, immediately next to Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli. The statue is ancient bronze (2nd century AD). Over -2K years, bronze reacts with air and moisture, forming a green patina (copper oxidation), which protects the metal underneath and is intentiol preserved. In the Middle Ages, people mistakenly believed the statue depicted Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor. Due to that mistake, it was not melted down, unlike many other pagan bronzes. The statue outdoors today is a replica; the original is preserved inside the Capitoline Museums to protect it from weather damage.

This piazza is a great walk-through near the monument to Emanuele II. I like being here in the…read moreevening. To bound up the steps toward the Senatorial Palace is quite fun. It projects an amazing calm and it's fun to look back down the steps at the streets and broad pine umbrellas bathed in the night's light.