If you’ve landed on this local guide to exploring the Prati neighborhood in Rome, chances are this isn’t your first rodeo in the city.
Not a lot of travelers set out to visit the Prati district on purpose. Many end up here to check out the Vatican Museums or a specific monument (usually Castel Sant’Angelo). But this post is going to let you experience Prati like you’re one of the locals.
You’ll get to know the piazzas, the coffee shops, and the gelato shops off the main tourist paths, like Piazza Cavour, Gianfornaio, and Neve di Latte.
Even if some might tell you otherwise, Prati is a bustling, busy neighborhood, and for good reason. I’m talking about one of the hottest shopping spots in the whole city.
And yeah, I’ll be diving into shopping in Prati too. So, let’s dive into discovering the best things to do in the Prati neighborhood, but first, let’s learn a bit about its history.
A brief history of Prati
The Rione Prati, on the right bank of the Tiber, is one of Rome’s chicest and most intriguing neighborhoods.
Its history dates back, of course, to Roman times when the land beyond Castel Sant’Angelo up to Monte Mario hill belonged to Nero. In fact, this densely populated and busy neighborhood, up until almost the start of the 20th century, was nothing but meadows, fields, vineyards, and marshes.
The area absorbed excess water during the Tiber River floods, safeguarding the more central areas.
Here in Prati, Romans would come with baskets full of food and bottles of wine for picnics. Until the late 19th-century construction initiatives turned it into the most modern neighborhood in the historic center. But the real transformation of the neighborhood happened around the first two decades of the 20th century.
Prati is the urban emblem of 19th-century politics: it was meant to have large avenues and squares in European style and an anti-clerical atmosphere.
The tall buildings (tall for the time) were supposed to hide St. Peter’s dome, a symbol of the papacy’s power, now in decline. Prati’s ain street, Via Cola di Rienzo, connected two of the neighborhood’s main piazza, Piazza della Libertà (Liberty Sq.) and Piazza del Risorgimento (Resurgence Sq.).
Prati was where the secular folks and those who had broken away from papal power would meet. The streets are all named after secular writers and figures and places that have nothing to do with the Catholic Church.
12 Best Things to Do in the Prati District in Rome
Guess what, I’m Roman. I grew up in a suburb just north of Prati. Visiting Prati, for me, has always meant going downtown.
Visiting Prati, for me, has always meant going downtown. Any place I needed to reach in the historic center of Rome, I had to go through Prati first. And naturally, I come here often for shopping, especially before Christmas and during the sales periods (January and July).
1. Shopping
One of the reasons why Prati is so popular is the presence of 3 of the most popular shopping streets of Rome:
- Via Cola di Rienzo
- Via Ottaviano
- Via Candia
Here you’ll find well-known brand stores like Benetton, shoe stores, leather goods, perfumeries, bookstores, and even the grocery market (along Via Cola di Rienzo).
2. Via Cola di Rienzo
Of these shopping streets, the most dynamic and shop-dense is Via Cola di Rienzo. It’s one of those places that really makes you feel “like a Roman for a day”.
Get drawn in by the sparkling shop windows, but don’t forget to visit Castroni. Once you step inside, you’ll immediately realize it’s the perfect place to discover food and gastronomy products you didn’t even know existed.
This grocery-gastronomy store has an extensive selection of products from all over the world that, since 1932, the Castroni family has brought to Rome. You’ll see many locals walking out with a package of the historic Castroni ground coffee, a true Italian coffee to make in your own moka: a souvenir that couldn’t be more Roman.
3. Coin
One of the sure bets for shopping lovers in Rome is the Coin store on Via Cola di Rienzo. Coin is a historic Italian department store that dates back to 1900 when Vittorio Coin founded the first store in Venice.
I’ll say upfront that normally I can’t afford to shop here, I’m a budget shopper and frequent other clothing stores in Rome. But I can’t help but go in to look around. Especially the ground floor, entirely dedicated to perfumery, is perfect for finding a gift. The upper floor is for clothing, while the basement has home accessories.
4. Gianfornaio
Besides buying ground or bean coffee, I’m sure you’ll want to enjoy a coffee or a cappuccino in a cup. To do so with satisfaction, I recommend moving slightly away from Via Cola di Rienzo to a less frequented side street, namely Via dei Gracchi. Here you’ll find Gianfornaio, one of the most loved cafes in Rome, which is a real point of reference in Prati. In addition to coffee, you’ll find freshly baked pizza by the slice and bread, since Gianfornaio is also a bakery.
5. Piazza dei Quiriti
Just a short walk from Gianfornaio is Piazza dei Quiriti, which I recommend you visit. First of all, because it’s one of the tranquil places in Prati.
Close to the shopping street but away from its hubbub, with the beautiful architecture and fountain, passing by this square I thought that Prati is one of the best neighborhoods in Rome for travelers.
In the center of the square, there’s a beautiful, large fountain sculpted at the beginning of the 20th century. It consists of two basins, one above the other.
The upper one features four nude caryatids (which caused a scandal at the time of the fountain’s creation). Around the fountain, there are benches. Sit down for a few minutes to catch your breath and relax with the sound of flowing water in the background. There’s also a late 19th-century church overlooking the square, the Church of San Gioacchino.
6. Libreria Antiquaria Giulio Cesare
Near Piazza dei Quiriti is also a very special shop, perhaps only appealing to connoisseurs, but I can’t help mentioning it: Libreria Antiquaria Giulio Cesare.
Even from the outside, the arrangement of books on the shelves lets me know I’ve arrived in one of those places where time has stopped and has no intention of moving on.
Entering, the smell of old paper, that dense, pungent smell, invades every corner of my nostrils. And just like that, I have the oldest books I’ve ever seen in my hands. The owner, a true Roman who loves to tell the story of the gems he keeps in his store, informs me about every cover, every page, pointing out the eras and years from which his beloved texts come. His love for books is definitely contagious.
There are books of every shape, color, and size, ranging from the 1500s to 2000. Even if you’re not a book enthusiast, I highly recommend a visit to this bookstore, just to be able to say you’ve once held an object over 500 years old in your hands.
The presence of special stores like this one, local cafes, and proximity to attractions make Prati a perfect base to visit Rome solo but not necessarily surrounded by tourists.
7. Have delicious gelato
Every time I come to the Prati district, I can’t resist the temptation of gelato, unless it’s really cold. The only problem is, here, I’d want to have two. In fact, my two favorite gelaterias in Rome are located in Prati:
- Gelateria La Romana
- Gelateria Neve di Latte Prati
The first is at one end of Via Cola di Rienzo, while the second is on Via Federico Cesi, a side street leading into Piazza Cavour. They are close enough to each other, so it’ll be hard to just have one gelato.
The choice is yours. The ingredients are top quality, as is the service. La Romana might be a bit busier, since it’s on the main street.
8. Piazza Cavour
This large piazza dedicated to the Italian politician Camillo Benso di Cavour, has gardens in the center that fill with locals during lunch break.
The gardens host the monument statue to Cavour. All around are beautiful Neo-Renaissance buildings. One entire side of the square is occupied by the Palace of Justice, also known as Palazzaccio, as the Romans call it, given its imposing size.
The Waldensian Church in Neo-Gothic style overlooks the square.
9. Cinema Adriano
Piazza Cavour is the most majestic of the Prati neighborhood, and right on it is one of the oldest cinemas in Rome, Cinema Adriano, previously Adriano Theater.
It dates back to year 1898, when it was born as a lyric theater, hosting significant classic operas until World War II. In the post-war period, it reinvented itself as a venue for live events. Among the most iconic certainly is the Beatles’ performance in 1965, one of the only Italian dates in the history of the English band.
Today it’s a multiplex that has maintained its historic facade and its incredibly charming interiors. For me, it’s really a joy to be able to sit in those red velvet armchairs and immerse myself in two hours of film.
10. Church of the Sacred Heart of Suffrage
Just a few minutes’ walk from Cinema Adriano, there’s a building that’s really peculiar for Rome. I stumbled upon it by chance, one evening at dusk, and I was truly amazed.
The fiery red of the typical Roman sunset reflected on this church of an unusual white for Rome. For a moment I thought I had been teleported to Milan. In fact, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Suffrage in Prati, Rome, is known as the “little Duomo of Milan”.
It dates back to the early 1900s, is built in neo-Gothic style, and in very clear concrete, enriched by 19 niches with as many statues of saints.
The real curiosity of this church is enclosed within. In its sacristy is the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory, wanted by the founder of the church following a fire that occurred after an apparition.
It’s said that the image of the soul of a deceased remained imprinted on the wall of one of the small chapels, and from there the decision to collect all the testimonies on the manifestations coming from the afterlife and to preserve them in the sacristy. Regardless of your religion, it’s a very curious place and I, despite my initial skepticism, was really thrilled to visit it.
11. Castel Sant’Angelo
Wandering through Prati, you’ll run into two of Rome’s most famous historical landmarks: the walls of Vatican City and Castel Sant’Angelo, which borders the Prati district.
Castel Sant’Angelo actually belongs to the Borgo neighborhood, but since it borders most of its perimeter with Prati, I’m including it in this guide.
Castel Sant’Angelo was originally built in 403 AD as a mausoleum wanted by Emperor Hadrian in an area that wasn’t too central.
In the middle of the 1300s, the keys were handed over to Pope Urban V. From there on, the history of Castel Sant’Angelo is inevitably linked to that of the popes.
Over the centuries, it was remodeled, renovated, and modified, becoming first a papal residence and then a prison. To visit the inside, you need to purchase a ticket for €15.
12. Trapizzino
Before saying goodbye to Prati, I recommend making at least one more stop, come on, make an effort, it’ll be a sweet, rather, a savory effort.
At Piazza Risorgimento, the square where the trams terminate, there’s a brewery where you can find the trapizzino. If you’ve never heard of it, no worries, but now you’ve got to try it.
The trapizzino is the most recent among Roman street foods and also one of the tastiest. It’s a “pocket” made with fragrant pizza dough, which you can fill choosing from typical dishes of Roman, Italian, or international cuisine.
For example, there’s the “pollo coi peperoni” (chicken with peppers) trapizzino, the eggplant parmigiana one, or the zighinì. There are vegetarian versions too.
I really like trapizzino and its price too, around €5. You’ll find it at the Be.Re Trapizzino at Piazza Risorgimento, which serves craft beers and trapizzino.
Wrap-up
In wrapping up this vibrant guide to Rome’s Prati neighborhood, it’s clear that this area offers far more than just a gateway to the Vatican or a quick photo stop at Castel Sant’Angelo.
Prati invites you to dive deep into the essence of Rome, blending historical charm with modern day living. From the shopping streets like Via Cola di Rienzo to the serene beauty of Piazza dei Quiriti, visiting Prati is an immersion in the daily life of the locals, who don’t miss a chance to indulge in delicious street food like gelato and trapizzino.
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