Via dei Coronari

The basics

A short walk from the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Castel Sant’Angelo, Via dei Coronari is an easy stop on self-guided tours of central Rome. Pass through for lunch, window shopping, or a stroll and a rest by the 16th-century fountain in Piazza di San Simeone.

Walking and segway tours are a great way to learn the history behind central Rome’s most storied spots, including Via dei Coronari. Heading down the street with a guide, you’ll learn about the original tenants of its Renaissance buildings, the shrines and crests that adorn their corners, and the area’s rosary bead vendors who catered to pilgrims going to the Vatican.

Things to know before you go

• Via dei Coronari is mostly a pedestrian street, but keep an eye out for fast-moving taxis and motorbikes.

• While restrooms in the street’s shops and restaurants are only for customers, there’s a public restroom nearby on Via Giuseppe Zanardelli.

• If you find yourself without a lunch or dinner reservation, Via dei Coronari’s many quick-service restaurants will save the day.

• Fill up your water bottle from the old drinking fountain on Via dei Coronari and Via di San Simeone.

How to get there

Chances are that you’ll stumble upon Via dei Coronari while walking through Rome’s historic center—it’s just a 15-minute stroll from St. Peter’s Basilica to the west, Campo de’ Fiori to the south, and the Trevi Fountain to the east. If you’re too far to walk, take a taxi or grab a bus going toward Piazza Navona.

When to get there

If shopping is your main objective, head to Via dei Coronari in the late morning or late afternoon when most businesses are open. Otherwise, stop by in the early morning (before the tourist rush) or for a nightcap at an outdoor table—this street is best experienced slowly and free of crowds.

More scenic strolls nearby

Rome’s historic center has no shortage of lovely lanes, but the area surrounding Via dei Coronari is particularly beautiful. Via Giulia’s vine-covered archway and Fontana del Mascherone are a photographer’s dream, while Via dei Pianellari is covered in charming wooden signs handmade by world-renowned sculptor Ferdinando Codognotto. Another option: Start in Piazza dell’Orologio, pick any direction, and stroll around this architecture fan’s paradise.