Via del Corso - Rome, Italy - A Quiet Walk toward Piazza del Popolo

The narrow pedestrian section of Via del Corso reveals a quieter side of Rome, with cobblestones, cafés and historic façades leading toward Piazza del Popolo.

The pedestrian section of Via del Corso passes between the historic buildings of central Rome as it approaches Piazza del Popolo, creating a surprisingly intimate contrast to the avenue's busier sections. Cobbled paving, warm ochre façades, shuttered windows, bicycles and small pavement cafés give this part of the famous street the atmosphere of a traditional Roman lane. Via del Corso forms one of the principal historic axes through the center of Rome, extending for approximately 1.5 kilometres between Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo. Its remarkably straight course follows the ancient urban route of the Via Flaminia, which was known within the city as the Via Lata. The street later became associated with the horse races held during the Roman Carnival, from which the name Corso developed. Today Via del Corso remains an important shopping and pedestrian route, connecting monumental squares, historic palaces and the maze of smaller streets at the heart of the Eternal City.