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Via del Corso runs from Piazza Venetia, below the Il Vittoriano monument in the center of Rome, all the way up to Piazza del Popolo in the north of the city. It's one of the biggest streets for shopping in Rome and is frequented by tourists and locals, looking for a variety of goods. There ... Read review
A review by Ottavia on Via del Corso September 8th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Prices
Good
Is it worth visiting?
Good
Transport links
Excellent
Family Friendly
Good
Advantages:
Plenty of variety, not all designer, lots of affordable places, food and cinema .
Disadvantages:
You might fall in love with designer clothes in the windows !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
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Via del Corso runs from Piazza Venetia, below the Il Vittoriano monument in the center of Rome, all the way up to Piazza del Popolo in the north of the city. It's one of the biggest streets for shopping in Rome and is frequented by tourists and locals, looking for a variety of goods. There are no sites that would be of interest to a tourist on Via del Corso, but there are so many very nearby such as the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Forum Romanum. So if you're doing a lot of walking around the city, then you're bound to find yourself on this street at some point. It's certainly well worth a visit as it's an interesting street with a good variety of shops and a good atmosphere.
We can date the history of this road back to the time of the Roman Empire, when it was known as Via Flaminia and was known to take you towards the Adriatic. The modern name derives from 'corse' as in a course for the horseracing that was commissioned to run here by Pope Paul II. It took place from the bottom of the Capitoline Hill and all the way up to the Piazza del Popolo and just past the city wall...so it literally was the whole street that took part.
The road is absolutely straight and wide, which is unusual for an area characterised by small streets, alleyways and little piazzas. However, it's often thought of as not wide enough, it's two lanes of traffic and paths either side are just able to fit! But when you're actually on the street it does feel pretty large...especially with all of the tall buildings and some modern large entrances to a few of it's buildings. Also I think the contrast between, say the Trevi fountain and Via del Corso, is so great that when you do end up walking down it, it will naturally seem bigger anyway. Right at the top of the road, nearing Piazza del Popolo it becomes pedestrianised.
During the 18th Century the area became popular with those seeking Rome's intellectual, political and artistic life and it quickly became the intellectual center of Rome. Nearing the mid 19th Century its reputation changed to being a street to shop on, as boutiques, book shops and the like began to spring up. This reputation has remained and since it's thrived as a place where you can buy all sorts but in particular reasonably priced items of clothing. However, if you venture away from Via del Corso you might find yourself of some of the notoriously expensive shopping streets such as Via del Condotti or Frattina. Both of these streets are charming and both host a series of extremely expensive designer boutiques such as Prada, Valentino, Hermes, Trussardi and Moschino.
You will also find some brands which are expensive here too. Some of these shops that feature on Via del Corso include Miss Sixty, Gucci, Chanel, Luisa Via Roma (selling Marc Jacobs), Guya (sells Vivienne Westwood), Swarovski and the Ferrari flag ship store. Also there are a series of pricey but lovely antique shops dotted around nearby. Hausmann's is here too, which is a two hundred year old clocks and watch makers, extremely prestigious and very well known by collectors for the quality of their products.
But there are loads of places to shop if you want some great clothes at a cheaper price (and who wouldn't!). Lots of high street shops too such as Diesel, Energie, United Colors of Benetton, Nike. The target market for most of the shops is the younger customer. You can buy other goods such as sports equipment and general home ware items. Messaggerie Musicali di Roma is a great music and dvd shop that's almost always open and has a good range of stock. Confettaria Moriondo & Gariglio is going to get those tastebuds going, it's an old confectioners which still makes chocolate and sweets from 19th Century recipes. Mmm! This is an absolute must.
When shopping anywhere in Rome, remember the store hours are slightly different. On Monday you might find a lot of shops closed in the morning and open in the late afternoon. During the rest of the week (except Sunday) the hours are roughly 9.30-13.00 then closed for a while and reopened from 15.30 to 19.30.
There are plenty of places to stop and get refreshments - you'll need it, it's a long street! On Via del Corso itself there are plenty of bars and takeaway cafes, selling paninis, sandwiches and drinks but to be honest it's aimed at the tourists, so is more expensive than necessary. Instead, you should definitely head down any of the side streets, particularly the east side, such as Via del Condotti because you can get some seriously amazing food for less money and also have the option to sit down. These streets are less crowded too, which means if you did have a takeaway lunch then you're better off eating it here too - it's just a lot nicer.
If you get fed up of shopping, or more likely the boys get tired of it, then send them in the direction of Piazza del Popolo - there's a cinema right at the end of the street that screens English/American films in the original language. Great way to stop the moaning and give you more time for shopping!
There is a little less sunlight on certain parts of the street, as the buildings are quite tall...if it's not the hottest day then take a cardi or something because it seems to be a little colder here. I doubt there's any science to that, it's just something I've found.
Overall, Via del Corso is a great street, especially for shopping as it provides both upmarket designer clothes, great high street makes and less pricey boutiques which makes it a great all-rounder. A great place to spend the day.
Advantages: A new way to discover the town Disadvantages: No disadvantages.
...of a house settle in Via del Corso who Goethe spent a lot of his time with other poets and german painters.The house is still at the same place and it's funny to start from this house to discover (200 years after) that Rome is still the same, always so atractive,and compare your point of view with the Goethe's one. You have to try. Discover your self the house of Goethe in the middle of Via del corso, visit the exhibition inside, buy
the little ...
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Advantages: Exclusive Disadvantages: Expensive and pretentious
...Bargain hunting on Via Condotti? Surely that's a near impossibility. Why this is one of the most expen...oh, wait a minute, That should read BAR hunting. Much more sensible.
The most famous fashion streets in Rome are the three parallel streets that all run into ViadelCorso - Via Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina.
And the most famous of these is Via Condotti, named after the channels that carried water to the nearby Agrippa thermal spa baths. But that's all water under the bridge now...as it were. These days, it's more about channelling hard cash into the fashion houses.
It all started back in 1905 when Bulgari (who never learned to spell apparently) was first to spot the trend of people who had almost as much money as they had fashion sense but considerably more than common sense. Bulgari can, I suppose, be considered...
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Advantages: Cinema, Church, local shopping an cafes. Disadvantages: Not too much for tourists.
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Piazza Cavour is a square in Rome, which is mostly residential and partially commercial. There are no real tourist attractions on Pizza Cavour, but it's possible that you might visit it for the annual book fair or pass through if you're doing a lot of walking in Rome. It's a useful route from the Vatican to the north eastern side of the city (Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, ViadelCorso etc).
Where is it?
It's located just off Via Crescenzo, which is a main street running from close to the Vatican Museum (Sistine Chapel) to Piazza Cavour. It's also just north of Via Triboniano which is the closest road running north from the bridge directly south of Piazza Cavour. If you're coming from the north of the city then you can reach by travelling south on the Via Lucrezio.
What's On It?
Well, not too much...
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Advantages: It's central, has a great view, interesting exhibit Disadvantages: It's not loved, because of it's appearance.
...of the unification of Italy, 1911.
Although it's seen as an eyesore, due to its form and stark white marble and although it's hated by locals for many reasons (including ruining the view of Capitoline hill and for being an example of arrogant and self important architecture) it's got a great view and does hold some brilliant information.
From the monument you can see down to the Piazza Venezia which is directly infront. Located here is the insurance company Assicurizioni Generali, who at one time employed Kafka. Also here is the Palazzo di Venezia which is the palace that housed Mussolini during the second world war. On the other side of the square is ViadelCorso (one of the most popular and largest shopping streets in Rome), running north all the way up to Piazza del Popolo. Apparently on clear days you can spot the Egyptian Ramses II obelisk...
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07.06.2009
