Places that have enchanted directors, writers and painters
22 Jul 2024
Known as the centre of European and Western culture, Rome has always inspired artists in every field, from art to music, from sculpture and writing to film. Strolling through the streets of the capital means soaking up the atmosphere and sights that, in one way or another, influenced art and popular culture.
If you are curious to discover the Capitoline attractions that have inspired great artists, we have selected a few stops for a unique route in the Eternal City.
Santa Maria in Montesanto, the Church of the Artists
Among the places that have most inspired artists in the Eternal City, a place of honour goes to the Church of Santa Maria in Montesanto, located in Piazza del Popolo.
This 17th-century building is known as the Church of the Artists. Its evocative name comes from the Artists' Mass held here, but also to the fact that, for decades now, it has been hosting the funerals of famous personalities from the world of entertainment.
Among the many, is Luigi De Filippo, heir to a long family heritage in film and theatre, Bud Spencer, Gigi Proietti and Fabrizio Frizzi.
Via Margutta, the street of the Dolce Vita
Near Santa Maria in Montesanto is Via Margutta, which has been one of the focal points of Rome's artistic tradition for five centuries. Parallel to the equally famous Via del Babbuino and loved above all by the artists of the Dolce Vita, it’s home to ateliers, antique dealers and art galleries, as well as presenting refined architectural elements that surprise locals and tourists alike.
Every year, the link between this traditional street and the art community is celebrated by the historic exhibition of the Hundred Painters of Via Margutta.
Among the many buildings on Via Margutta, don't miss the house of Federico Fellini, one of the most important directors of Italian cinema, at number 110. He lived here until his death together with his wife Giulietta Masina.
Via Margutta is also home to the Maison Roma Piazza di Spagna | UNA Esperienze, an elegant boutique hotel that shares the picturesque soul of the street. Inside, you will find a splendid hall with vaulted frescoed ceilings, gold details and architectural elements that testify to the presence of an ancient chapel. The tabernacle and altar, set into the Bar Margutta counter, are still visible today.
This hotel frozen in time is characterised by timeless charm and an intriguing blend of the sacred and the profane. It also features cosy rooms made from the cells in which the students of the old boarding school used to stay. Exquisitely renovated, they offer all the necessary comforts for a pleasant stay in Rome.
Also, worth mentioning is the quiet inner courtyard: a little oasis of tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, framed with plants and floral decorations.
Piazza di Spagna, from cinema to literature
Only 500 metres from Via Margutta is Piazza di Spagna, one of the most iconic places in Rome. With its unique beauty and romantic atmosphere, it has a long history that links it to Italian and international popular culture.
It appeared in the film Roman Holiday (1953) starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, as well as Once Upon a Time in Rome (2010). Before that, it influenced the poems of John Keats and the writings of Stendhal.
Piazza di Spagna was also one of the most popular stops on the Grand Tour, the educational journey of wealthy artists through the most important sites of cultural Europe.
A fun fact: the name Piazza di Spagna comes from the fact that, in 1647, the seat of the Spanish embassy moved from the Vatican to this area.
In the footsteps of Alberto Moravia
Alberto Moravia is considered one of the most important novelists of the 20th century, but he was also a journalist, poet, playwright, reporter and politician. A creative personality who had a strong link to Rome throughout his life.
On the Lungotevere della Vittoria is the Alberto Moravia House Museum a place where it’s possible to experience his cultural heritage. In the different rooms of the flat, which stand out for their simplicity, one can admire works of art, collectors’ items, historical books and much more.
Palazzetto Zuccari, the artist's home
Francesco Zuccari was a famous 16th century painter and artist, who achieved great fame during his lifetime for his contribution to the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.
Perhaps not everyone knows that, in 1590, he bought a prestigious piece of land near Trinità dei Monti and began designing what is still considered one of the most interesting examples of an artist's house in Italy. The building also became known over time as the House of Monsters because of its peculiar decorations, particularly those on the door frames and external windows, which look like monstrous open mouths.
During the Grand Tour era, it became an inn for artists and Joshua Reynolds, Johann Joachim Winckelmann and Jacques-Louis David stayed there, among others. Palazzetto Zuccari is also mentioned by Gabriele D'Annunzio in his novel Il piacere.
Rome is one of the most famous and celebrated cities in the world, but there is always a new way to discover it. Following in the footsteps of the artists and great personalities who have passed through here, admiring the places that inspired them, is certainly one of the most evocative.