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"Via Del Corso From Piazza Del Campidoglio To Piazza Del Popolo"

This route begins at Piazza del Campidoglio on Capitoline Hill, one of the most important sites in Roman history. Much of the area's legacy can be visited in the Capitoline Museums, which are amongst most interesting museums in the city. Piazza Venezia, Rome's epicentre of urban life, is only a short walk away. The square with the enormous, white Vittoriano monument stirs up mixed emotions in Rome's citizenry, many of whom dislike the monument and have given it an assortment of less than favourable nicknames, but it is an inevitable stop for locals and tourists alike. The square does offer visitors valuable insight into the city's pace and urban way of life.     

The square is also the beginning of the Via del Corso, one of Rome's most emblematic avenues. The avenue continues in a straight line from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo, a very popular square with the local population, and the lush gardens of the Villa Borghese.

Many consider the Piazza del Campidoglio to be the ultimate expression of Roman elegance. Therefore, discovering that Michelangelo played a significant role in its design comes as no surprise. The square is flanked by three palaces, the Palazzo Nuovo, the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Senatorio. The first two palaces house the Capitoline Museums, which also include the collections at the Pinacoteca and the Tabularium. The Capitoline Museums are considered to be the oldest, public museums in the world and contain some of the most celebrated pieces in Roman art history, such as the famous Capitoline She-Wolf shown breastfeeding the twins Romulus and Remus.

If you leave the Piazza del Campidoglio using the main staircase, you come across the Piazza Aracoeli on your right. This square houses another landmark, the Santa Maria in Aracoeli Church, which now marks the highest point on the Capitoline Hill.

A short walk takes you to Piazza Venezia, city's main traffic nexus. Rome is infamous for its traffic, and a figure alone can give you a better understanding of the urban pace in this metropolis - almost one million cars drive across this square every day. This should also give you an idea of what this square is like; in addition to cars, the most noteworthy element is the enormous, white monument officially known as the Vittoriano. The monument was built to honour Vittorio Emmanuele II, and its design is an endless source of amusement, outrage and debate amongst the city's population.

Facing the Vittoriano on the western side of the square is the Palazzo di Venezia, whose balconies served as a pulpit for more than a few of Mussolini's speeches. A section of the palace is dedicated to the Museo Nazionale di Palazzo di Venezia, which contains an interesting collection of art from the Middle Ages until the 18^th century.

Tucked behind the palace is the San Marco Basilica, which was originally built in the 4th century but has been remodelled several times since. One of the more recent additions is a beautiful mosaic from the 19^th century. Another historical treasure is just a short distance away - the Palazzo Doria Pamphili. The palace is of the utmost elegance, emphasised by a facade from the mid-18th century and a breath-taking interior decor. The palace also houses the Doria Pamphili Gallery, again named after the palace's owner, which is renowned for its outstanding private, art collection. The gallery owns 400 paintings from the 15^th to the 18^th century, featuring pieces by Caravaggio, Lorrain and Titian. However, one of the most spectacular pieces isn't by an Italian painter – it is a portrait of Pope Innocent X Pamphili painted by the Spanish master Velázquez. The portrait hangs alone in one of the palace's supremely elegant rooms, adding to the painting's impressive quality.

One of the city's most significant churches, the Chiesa di Gesú, isn't far from the gallery. The church is famous for both the beauty of its interior and the fact that it was Rome's first Jesuit church. Saint Ignacio, the founder of the Jesuit order, spent the last years of his life in this church and his chambers are open to the public. Saint Ignacio is also buried here in a tomb made entirely out of bronze and marble.

If you want to continue to Piazza del Popolo, you must head down Via del Corso, one of Rome's most famous and busiest avenues. Centuries ago this avenue was where the very popular horse races took place, which is also how it got its name since corso means horse in Italian. The sporting days are long gone, and the racetrack has been replaced by chic boutiques and popular shops. As you head up Via del Corso, take a right on Via di Ripetta. This little detour will take you to the Ara Pacis Augustae and Mausoleum of Augustus. Unfortunately, these historical landmarks are closed to the public, but the monumental exteriors are impressive in their own right and a clear indication of the important role these buildings once played.

The Via del Corso ends at the Piazza del Popolo, a square that is incredibly popular with the local population. Tourists visiting the square for the first time are usually surprised by its enormous dimensions. The sprawling square is unmistakable – its centre is marked by the second oldest obelisk in Rome and one end is adorned by two peculiar churches, the Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto Churches. They are known as the twin churches due to their almost identical appearance.

There is even enough space in this enormous square for an impressive fountain, surrounded by a series of steps. Both locals and tourists gather on the steps for a refreshing break from the summer heat, meaning that this part of the square is usually very crowded. The northernmost section of the square, next to the Porta del Popolo, is where you can find one of the city's most important churches, Santa Maria del Popolo. The church is famous for the valuable artwork inside, including pieces by renowned artists like Raphael and Pinturicchio.