The area of Rome’s downtown , characterized by three large roads: Via del Corso, Via di Ripetta and Via del Babuino is called “Tridente”
Among the many legends and stories that make Rome a totally fascinating city, we can find historical artifacts from outside of Rome itself: starting our visit from Piazza del Popolo we will find the Egyptian Obelisk brought to Rome by Augustus.
From here we will continue towards S. Maria del Popolo, inside which are preserved works by Caravaggio, Annibale Carrocci and Pinturicchio, then take Via di Ripetta up to Piazza Augusto Imperatore.
Leaving the spaciousness of Piazza del Popolo we will enter this narrow street typical of the center of Rome, where we can take a break from the chaos of the city.
In the peace of Via di Ripetta rises the story: adjacent to Piazza Augusto Imperatore we will find the Ara Pacis in a building designed by architect Richard Meyer.
The third street of the Trident can not but be Via del Corso, completely opposite to Via di Ripetta: here politics and economy overlap.
From Palazzo Montecitorio, home of the Chamber of Deputies, and Palazzo Chigi, official residence of the prime minister, we will cross the shopping street, famous all over the world for its luxury shops and its showcases.
But Rome is synonymous of culture and even in the shopping streets we can find a special place frequented in the past by artists and writers: the Caffè Greco .
From Piazza del Popolo, Via di Ripetta, Via del Corso, we connect to Piazza di Spagna where shopping and modernity give way to the Baroque art of the Fontana della Barcaccia and the imposing staircase dominated by the Church of Church of Trinità dei Monti.