Rome’s number 1 shopping street
Via del Corso is probably the only straight street in the entire center of Rome. It is also the only street of a reasonable width, since most of the rest of the area is characterized by rather narrow, winding alleys.
Its length is about 1.5 kilometers and half of that (the part north of the Via del Parlamento on the left and the Via della Mercede on the right) is pedestrian. It connects the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Venezia and almost every building has been turned into shop space. The most upmarket stores of Rome can however be found along its prestigious side streets, like the Via Condotti.
The Via del Corso used to be known as the Via Lata. It got its present name thanks to an annual horse race along the entire street. The race (corso) was banned in the mid-19th century, but the name remained.
Tourist sites along the Via del Corso
Although none of Rome’s top 10 tourist attractions can be found directly along the Via del Corso, it is still an interesting street for the discerning tourist, even if this tourist is not there for the shopping.
Starting along the Piazza Venezia side, one of the first buildings on the left is the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, housing an impressive gallery of paintings under the name Galleria Doria Pamphilj.
The baroque church of San Marcello al Corso can be found almost directly across from the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj.
Still on the left side of the street, further op the road, is the Museo del Corso, which often hosts interesting exhibitions, like the one dedicated to Edward Hopper (just finished).
When you are halfway up the Via del Corso you will find the Piazza Colonna, with the column (colonna) celebrating the victory of Marcus Aurelius over the German tribes in the 2nd century. Palazzo Chigi, the residence of the Prime Minister of Italy, is located on the Piazza Colonna.
Shopping in the Via del Corso
North of the Piazza del Parlamento the Via del Corso becomes a pedestrian zone and the street becomes completely dedicated to shops of all kinds and for all budgets.
Some of the most famous brand names in the world can be found along the Via del Corso:
Ladies’ fashion:
Celyn B. (number 35)
Ethic (number 85)
Zara (number 138)
Sandro Ferrone (number 151)
Louisa Spagnoli (number 154)
Class (number 293)
Sisley (number 415)
For the latest trends:
Effetti Moda (number 94)
Killah (number 100)
Diesel (number 186)
Energie (number 179)
Miss Sixty (number 511)
For men’s clothes:
Fellini (number 29)
Stefanel (number 123)
David Saddler (number 104)
Sette Camicie (number 416)
Nuvolari (number 502)
Sportswear:
Murphy & Nye (number 25, Sailing gear)
Footlocker (number 39)
Lacoste (number 61)
puma (number 403)
Adidas (number 475)
Nile (number 478)
Other:
Michael Negrin (jewelry, number 2)
Tezenis (kids’ underwear, number 148)
Disney (number 165)
Frette (luxury linens and pajamas)
Segue (bags, suitcases, number 377)
The Galleria Alberto Sordi, a prestigious mall, can be found across the road from Piazza Colonna.
Via del Corso Practical Information
| Address | Via del Corso |
| District | Campo marzio/Colonna |
| Hotels nearby | All Rome hotels |
| Telephone | Not appliccable |
| Opening Hours | Always open |
| Closed | Never |
| Admission | Free |
| Public transport | Metro: Spagna, Flaminio (A); Bus: 40E, 64 |
| Special Holidays/Events | Carnival procession. |
| Note | Via del Corso is supposed to be pedestrian. Not everybody thinks the law applies to themselves too. |
Directions to the Via del Corso
Being Rome’s most central street, it is fairly easy to reach it even on foot, if your hotel in Rome is anywhere between Roma Termini and the Vatican City. Several bus routes have stops on Piazza Venezia (40E, 64, H, to name a few important ones) at the beginning of the Via del Corso, while metro line A takes you to the Flaminio stop, which is located across from the Piazza del Popolo, at the other end of Rome’s main shopping street. It is not really recommended to come to the center by car, but if you decide to do so anyway, there is a parking garage underneath Villa Borghese.