Piazza Colonna - Colonna Square (Rome)

 square, historic town square

This piazza is situated at the midpoint of Via del Corso and the Romans consider it the center of the city. It has a long column (colonna) after which the piazza has been named.
In the middle ages this square had a lot of houses belonging to the old and aristocratic families of Rome. This was the scene till the 18th century when the square became the area for fruit and vegetable vendors. After the 1870’s a string of fashionable restaurants was the norm with table services by waitresses. In the 19th century Benito Mussolini used to speak from the balcony of Palazzo Chigi.

On the eastern side of piazza colonna one can find the Galleria Colonna. This large building was built in 1922. It has an inner passage with many shops.

On the southern side of the piazza one can find the Palazzo Ferraioli. Francesco Piparelli designed this in 1627. However Giovanni Antonio de Rossi completed it in 1642. There is also a small church in the vicinity- the church of St. Bartholomew of Bergarnaschi whose façade was designed by Carlo di Dominicius in 1731. Next to this there is an interesting 18th century portal.