Fountains and Squares Walking Tour (Self Guided), Rome

In Rome there is a lively piazza round almost every corner, each with its own unique atmosphere and its own story to tell. These public squares have been the center of Roman culture for centuries, and some of the city’s most popular attractions are located within them.

Most piazzas have a fountain in the center and a lot of cafes around. In fact, Rome holds the largest number of fountains in the world (including 50 monumental and hundreds of smaller ones), some of which date back thousands of years.

Rome's love affair with fountains started over two millennia ago, during which time the fountains have provided drinking water to the city via nine specially-built aqueducts and served as decorations for the numerous piazzas. To ensure their fail-safe performance, each of the major fountains was traditionally fed by two different aqueducts, in case one was shut down for service.

Today, fountains are integral part of the Roman cultural setting glorified by cinema – such as the Trevi Fountain in the La Dolce Vita movie. To appreciate the city's most prominent fountains in their splendor and, perhaps, to toss in a coin for good luck, take this self-guided walk!

Getting to Sight #1. The first tour stop (Piazza della Repubblica) is a short walk from Termini Train Station or can be reached directly by Bus: 170, 649, 70, H; Train: FCO, FL2, FL5, Train R; Metro: line A and B, Light Rail: 5; Tram: 5 and 14.